D'Alleva will succeed Kelahan as superintendent

WATKINS GLEN--The Watkins Glen school board Monday, March 1 unanimously approved high school Principal Kai D'Alleva to succeed Greg Kelahan as school superintendent effective Sept. 1.
Kelahan has announced he will formally stay on as superintendent through August to enable a smooth transition.
D'Alleva was named high school principal in 2014. He has also served as the principal for the district's middle school. D'Alleva started as a social studies teacher in 2006 with the Watkins school system. Previously, D'Alleva was also the elementary school principal in the Spencer-Van Etten school district from 2011-2013.
D'Alleva said after the meeting that a lot of people know he has lived in the district for some 14 years. He said it is a privilege, in a community that he's chosen to make his family home, to be moving into this position and to be unanimously selected by the board of education. D'Alleva said, "I'm excited about the opportunity, but also very humbled by the opportunity. I'm really looking forward to the experience."
Kelahan said, "It is always difficult to leave a job that you love; fortunately, I will remain in the community of Watkins Glen. I have seen a lot of changes in 32 years, and this has been an exceptionally challenging time for public education. The COVID pandemic has caused us to rethink our entire way of doing business, and I believe the processes of teaching and learning will never be the same. It certainly is impressive how students, parents, and school staff have been able to successfully navigate such a drastically changing landscape. I was blessed to be able to support this community in such a time of need, but now I am looking forward to new adventures. The district is in exceptionally good hands with the appointment of Kai D'Alleva as the next superintendent - retirement decisions are easier when one knows that the good work of the district will continue."