As we kick off the 2024-2025 school year, we’re excited to introduce new leadership at two of our buildings. At the Middle School, Michele Osterhout, who previously served as Associate Principal, will now take over the role of Principal. She’s joined by new Associate Principal Megan Ferry, a former Special Education Teacher and coach at Chenango Valley Middle School.
At Homer Brink Elementary, more familiar faces begin new positions, as Kara Mallery, the former Associate Principal, now takes over the role of Principal. She’s joined by new Associate Principal Stacey Hanna, who spent the last 20 years as a teacher in the district, most recently serving as an instructional coach.
These new appointments follow the retirements of Middle School Principal Rick Otis, and Homer Brink Principal Linda Kelly.
Michele Osterhout has been a part of the Maine-Endwell Central School District for more than 20 years. She spent the past 15 years as Associate Principal of the Middle School. Before taking on the role of an administrator, Osterhout taught in the district for more than nine years. She believes in engaging and inspiring students, while also supporting teachers and staff in their professional growth. Osterhout also has a deep understanding of our district's mission, vision and goals, which will be significant as she steps into her new role.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity. I think middle school has a unique opportunity to bridge childhood with adolescence, and so we take that responsibility, and we move the kids forward on that journey. It will be a wonderful school year because our faculty and staff is just awesome,” said Osterhout.
In her spare time, Osterhout enjoys outdoor activities and values time she spends with friends and family. Each year, she searches for novel places to visit and has found that some of the most memorable trips have been the ones with the least planning. The new Principal believes in being a well-rounded and balanced person, and recognizes the importance of life-long learning.
Kara Mallery began her teaching career at Susquehanna Valley, where she served as a special education teacher for 16 years. Growing up in the picturesque Finer Lakes area, she earned her bachelor's degree in Unified Elementary and Special Education from Keuka College. Mallery would later move to the Binghamton area to pursue a master's degree in Literacy. Following her 16-year tenure at Susquehanna Valley, she earned her Certificate of Administration from Binghamton, and later served as Associate Principal of Homer Brink, where she spent the past three years.
Mallery says she’s dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students. “I'm really excited to be in this role. I've had some really great mentors that have helped me get to this place, and I'm excited to be here to lead and inspire and empower our staff and our students. I appreciate the community and the parent involvement, and I'm looking forward to continuing to collaborate with everybody,” said Mallery.
Mallery lives in Apalachin with her husband and two children, who attend the Vestal Central School District.
Stacey Hanna has been a familiar face to M-E students for the past 20 years. She began her journey in academics as a special education teacher, where she developed a deep understanding of the diverse needs of our students. Over the past two decades, Hanna expanded her expertise by teaching math and science. Most recently, she served as an Instructional Coach for the district, where she worked closely with new teachers to implement innovative instructional strategies to promote best practices in the classroom.
Hanna says she’s dedicated her career to fostering a supportive and enriching learning environment for students. “I have been supported by this community, by this district, as a teacher, as an instructional coach, so I'm really excited about having the opportunity to broaden my impact that I can have on our students and our staff. I’m just really excited to be in this new role,” said Hanna.
Outside of school, the new Associate Principal cherishes time spent with family and friends, especially when she’s camping or enjoying time on the water. She also has a passion for cooking, which allows her to unwind and connect with loved ones.
Megan Ferry may be a new face to Maine-Endwell, but she's no stranger to enriching the lives of students. Most recently, she worked as a special education teacher at Chenango Valley Middle School. Children have always been at the forefront of her life, and in addition to teaching, Gerry coached modified girls basketball and was involved in plenty of clubs and activities at the district. When she's not working, she's often spending time with family or watching sports, especially football and basketball. She also has a love for reading, and will read any book that is presented at her book club.
Ferry says she's seen the school pride and atmosphere created at Maine-Endwell and is excited to be involved within the community and schools. "I've spent the summer in the middle school and around the leadership team, and I've seen summer enrichment and some of the kids, and met the teachers, and it's a great community to be involved in. Everybody is happy to be here and has so much Spartan pride, so I'm very excited to be part of this district, said Ferry.
We are so excited to welcome our four new principals as we begin a new year in just a couple of weeks.