Vestal Central Schools names Patrick Clarke as new Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
Vestal CSD’s Board of Education accepted Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey J. Ahearn’s recommendation to appoint Patrick Clarke, III, as the new Assistant Superintendent for Instruction at its meeting on Tuesday, June 8. Mr. Clarke will assume his new leadership role effective June 9, 2021.
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Patrick Clarke, III
With multiple degrees from Binghamton University, Mr. Clarke is the epitome of Vestal’s mission-statement tenet of being a life-long learner. They include a BA with majors in History and Latin American studies and a minor in Spanish. He has Master’s degrees in both secondary social studies education and American/Latin American history, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Studies in educational leadership. Currently a doctoral candidate in Education Theory, Research and Practice, Mr. Clarke’s areas of concentration are social studies education, educational change and teacher leadership.
His teaching experience as a social studies teacher includes three years at Susquehanna Valley High School and then eight years at Binghamton High School. An integral part of the Vestal instructional team since 2013, he has served as a Coordinator of Instruction and then as a Director of Instruction. Mr. Clarke’s oversight and meticulous attention to every aspect of the testing and instructional programs under his purview is consistently flawless. He has been responsible for K – 12 social studies, grades 7 – 12 World Languages and has also led the District’s mentoring program for new teachers. In addition, he helped introduce the Teaching for Understanding and Responsive Classroom initiatives.
When New York State Education Department offered a new credential, the New York State Seal of Biliteracy, it was a natural fit for Mr. Clarke to manage the District’s implementation of this program. His devotion to ensuring that our families who speak another language at home comfortably settle into Vestal Schools is without parallel, and he has very capably coordinated the District’s English as a New Language program since joining Vestal. Other areas under his management include the District’s student support services, data and assessment systems and a majority of the teacher evaluation system.
“Patrick is such an asset to the Vestal Central School District in so many ways,” said Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey J. Ahearn. “As a self-motivated, hard-working and empathetic colleague, we are happy to have him in a leadership role in which I know he is destined to succeed.”
“As a long-time member of Vestal’s instructional leadership team, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue the work in a new role,” said Patrick Clarke. “I know that I am inheriting an incredibly strong instructional program with a great team of administrators, faculty and staff. I am humbled by the opportunity to help lead this group through the next phase of our District’s work!”