An education in all things Albany

They say you never stop learning, and I know that’s certainly true for me.

I’ve been your superintendent for almost six months, and I’ve truly enjoyed learning about the people I serve in the City School District of Albany, and about the city I now call home. 

Here are some of the good things I’ve learned:

• The school district and the city are incredibly rich in diversity. This is a gift and an asset that benefits all of us. I celebrate the fact that I live among and work with people who are not carbon copies of myself.  
• There’s a lot of great teaching and learning happening in every one of our schools, without exception.
• The newly renovated Albany High School is spectacular, and when the rebuild is complete in 2025, it will be one of the most technologically advanced high schools in the Northeast.
• Our programs for refugee and immigrant students and families are unparalleled and inspiring.

I also have learned that we have work to do. 

While we continue to improve in many areas post-pandemic, we remain focused on improving student outcomes across the board. 

This includes our work to remove barriers to student attendance, make sure our schools are safe for students and staff, and do a better job of supporting each other as we do our most important job: educating students.  

Although frustrating, our challenges are not unique. 

Before I came to Albany, I was a superintendent in a suburban school district and a small-city school district for a combined 14 years. I assure you that those districts faced many of the problems that we experience. So do school districts across New York, according to my fellow superintendents.

I am a huge jazz fan (bear with me, there is a connection). In jazz, performers constantly check in with each other, and the best ones get their great sound from feedback they get by watching and listening to each other and working together.

It’s also a great strategy for running a successful school district, business or any other organization that serves people.

Since I started in June, I’ve met with students, staff and families. I’ve also met with elected officials including the mayor, police chief, county executive, Common Council members, and our state Assembly and Senate representatives. I’ve also met with community and church leaders.

I’m also looking forward to more listening and learning sessions with our faculty and staff members in every building and hope to learn more about what we believe we are doing well, and what we believe we must improve. 

My door is open, and I am listening, watching and learning. That is how I operate. And I pledge to work with all of you to celebrate our successes, confront the issues we face honestly and forthrightly, and iron out our differences respectfully, with our kids at the forefront of all we do. 

As I have mentioned before, those of you that have visited me at Academy Park may have noticed a drum set in my office. This was my first drum set as an elementary student, and it serves as a reminder of the doors education can open. 

Music was the cornerstone of my public school experience, motivating me to find the success I knew I was capable of, both personally and professionally.

It was music for me, just as it’s culinary or calculus or athletics or the arts for other students. In our school district, we offer incredible opportunities in all those disciplines and much more. 

I am committed to seeing that these opportunities are accessible and available to all our students, and to working together to make it happen.

Sincerely,

Joseph Hochreiter
Superintendent