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Welcome Nicholas Comproski—Fort Plain’s new Jr./Sr. High School Principal

Fort Plain CSD Jr/Sr HIgh School Principal, Nicholas Comproski, who has short dark brown hair and is wearing a pink dress shirt and patterned tie, looks at and smiles for the camera while seated at a work desk.
Join us in welcoming Jr./Sr. High School Principal Nicholas Comproski to the Fort Plain CSD team.

Join us in welcoming Nicholas (Nick) P. Comproski, Fort Plain CSD’s new Jr./Sr. High School Principal.

Mr. Comproski will begin in this new role with our district on May 1, 2024. His appointment was approved by the Board of Education at its regular meeting March 13, 2024.

Mr. Comproski has had a distinguished career in education to-date, with an emphasis on middle and high school youth and education. He brings a wealth of experience to this position, which includes time spent as a social studies teacher and special educator. Mr. Comproski comes to Fort Plain having most recently served as Assistant Principal of the Van Corlaer Elementary School in the Schenectady City School District.

“Mr. Comproski was selected based on the input of many people in our school community around the qualities they most hoped for in a new school leader for the high school. This included our students, families, teachers, community members, our administration and board,” said Fort Plain Superintendent Lauren Crisman. “We are thrilled to be welcoming Nick to our Fort Plain team. The students and our school community are sure to benefit from his experience and thoughtful approach to education.”

“I am extremely excited and honored to be selected as the next principal of Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School,” said Nick Comproski. “In the past, I have been a teacher and an administrator in very large school systems. I feel I can make a greater impact in a smaller environment such as Fort Plain.”

“Since my first interview for this position, I have felt the small town feel, the community connection and the warm embrace,” Comproski continued. “This district’s mission statement is one that connects with many of my own beliefs and feelings. I believe relationships are one of the keys to life and look to not only create strong bonds, but collaborate with others in the school community to grow them together.”

About Nicholas Comproski

Nick Comproski is a k-12 graduate of North Colonie Schools and alumnus of Siena College and The College of Saint Rose, where he earned advanced degrees in educational leadership. He is currently working toward completion of his doctorate in Educational Leadership at Russell Sage College.

Additionally, Mr. Comproski has served as an adjunct professor at the College of Saint Rose in its teacher preparation program.

Outside of school, Mr. Comproski is a long-time firefighter/EMT with the Maplewood Volunteer Fire Department in Colonie, N.Y., and has coached teams in various sports over the years.

Since 2021, Mr. Comprowski has also served as a member of the North Colonie CSD Board of Education.

Welcome Interim Jr./Sr. High School Principal Mark Fish

Two high school students stand on each side of Interim Jr/Sr High School Principal, Mark Fish, who is featured at the center of this photo. The group stand in a well-lit hallway of the high school and all are looking at and smiling for the camera.
Join us in welcoming Mark Fish (center), Fort Plain CSD’s Interim Jr./Sr. High School Principal.

Join us in welcoming Interim Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School Principal Mark Fish. Fish began his time with the district on Monday, Jan. 29 and will serve in this role through the end of the 2023-24 school year or until a new principal for the school is hired. Learn more about Interim Jr./Sr. High School Principal Mark Fish.

“Already, I have been so impressed by the students,” said Fish of his first days in district. “I have had so many pleasant conversations with the students. They have been so welcoming, have been kind in introducing themselves and letting me know what they like about learning in Fort Plain, and have taken the time to ask me about myself, too.”

“Fort Plain is such a well-respected school district, and I am looking forward to spending time here, keeping things running smoothly at the Jr./Sr. High School as the search for the new principal of the school is underway.”

Mark E. Fish appointed Interim Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School Principal

At its regular meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, the Fort Plain Board of Education voted to appoint Mark E. Fish to the position of Interim Principal of its Jr./Sr. High School.

Fish’s appointment to the position of Interim Principal in Fort Plain will take effect on Jan. 29, 2024. He will serve in the position through the end of the 2023-24 school year or until a permanent replacement for the principal of the Jr./Sr. High School has been hired.

“Mark Fish is a proven leader in education. We are pleased to have him join our Fort Plain team and lend his expertise and leadership in support of our students and staff while we work to secure a permanent addition to our administrative team,” said Fort Plain Board of Education President Kimberly Keane.

Meet Mark Fish, Interim Jr./Sr. High School Principal

Mark Fish has more than 35 years of experience in the education field. Most recently, Fish served as the Interim Principal of the Salem Washington Academy in Salem, N.Y.  Prior to this, he served for eight years as the superintendent of the Greenwich Central School District. He retired from this position in 2022.

Fish also held the position of principal of Oliver W. Winch Middle School in South Glens Falls. He began his career in education as a physical education teacher and coach at Greater Johnstown City School District

Mark Fish holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from SUNY Cortland and a Master’s of Science in Educational Theory and Practice and in Educational Administration and Policy Study from the University of Albany. He completed the Transition to Superintendency program at SUNY Oswego and holds School Administrator Supervisor and School District Administrator certifications.

In 2010, Fish was honored as New York State Middle School Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) and as a National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP).

Fish has served with the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex (WSWHE) Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) Advocacy, CTE, Administrative & Capital Budgets Committees and the Saratoga-Warren-Washington Workforce Development Board. He has also been an officer with the New York State Middle School Association since 2005.

Jr./Sr. High School Principal—next steps

A message to the Fort Plain community from District Superintendent Lauren Crisman

Dear Students, Parents and Caregivers,

I hope you each enjoyed a wonderful December vacation!

To welcome the new year, I write to inform you about the district’s plan to address the vacancy of the Jr./Sr. High School Principal. Read about the retirement of Dr. Deborah Larrabee. 

The position of Jr./Sr. High School Principal has been posted to several recruitment platforms. We intend to conduct interviews during the third marking period. The district is committed to finding the best candidate to be the new building-level leader. View the posting and description of the Jr./Sr. High School Principal position.

Through January 26, the duties associated with the role of the building principal will be covered by the members of our existing administrative team. Mrs. Canallatos will provide instructional leadership support; Mrs. Coppolo will assist both buildings as the Testing Coordinator for NYS Assessments in Grades 3-8. Mr. Bertram will provide on site leadership to implement the day to day operations associated with running the Jr./Sr. High School and provide student conduct support.

It is the district’s hope to secure an Interim Principal by the start of the second semester to provide building-level leadership during the third marking period and possibly until the end of the year, if deemed necessary.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Darcie Jenks in the Jr./Sr. High School Main Office at 518-933-4000 ext. 2124. She will be happy to direct your call to the administrator who can best support you.

Wishing you a wonderful 2024!

Administrative Job Posting: Jr./ Sr. High School Principal 

Fort Plain CSD is seeking a certified, experienced administrator to serve as the next Jr./Sr. High School Principal.

The successful candidate will have experience in team-building and creating a positive, respectful school culture; possess excellent communication skills and value collaboration.

The candidate must demonstrate proficiency with regard to the use of technology and analyzing data.

Required Qualification:

Candidates must hold a NYS School Building Leader Certification.

Start Date: 

Anticipated start date in Spring of 2024, to be negotiated upon hire.

Salary Range:  

Starting salary will be negotiated based on professional experience.  The Fort Plain Administrators’ Association offers a competitive benefits package.

View the posting and description of the Jr./Sr. High School Principal position.

Dr. Deborah Larrabee, Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School Principal, to retire

Please join us in wishing Dr. Deborah Larrabee well in her retirement.

Dr. Larrabee’s retirement, which will take effect on Jan. 3, was approved by our Board of Education at its Dec. 21, 2023 meeting.

Dr. Larrabee has served as an educator and leader in our Fort Plain schools for the past 22 years, as both a high school social studies teacher and class advisor and, since 2004, as the principal of the Jr./Sr. High School. Dr. Larrabee has had a significant and lasting impact on so many of our students and her colleagues across the district.

We are grateful for her service.

Next steps

The district is considering two options to best support the immediate needs of the Jr./Sr. High School students and staff, and allow us time to do a thorough search for the next principal.

A vacancy for an interim principal has been posted. View the posting and description of the Interim Jr./Sr. High School Principal position.

If there are not any interim candidates, the district will develop an internal coverage plan to delegate the building level leadership duties to our existing administrative team.

More information about our move to fill the Jr./Sr. High School Principal position will be forthcoming early in the new year.

For questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Crisman at 518-993-4000 ext.1000.

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