Red Hook High School

Cairo Fox-Feuer was reading in the hallway one day last year as Colleen Lynch was walking by.
“Without hesitation, she sat down at the desk next to me and asked me about the material I was reading,” the senior said of Red Hook High School’s assistant principal. “We ended up having a conversation for half an hour in which she inquired and helped me to synthesize and apply the material to her experience and our everyday life.”
Many students, up and down Red Hook’s hallways, have a similar story of the quiet awareness and support the assistant principal exudes each day. It’s one of many reasons why the School Administrators Association of New York State has announced Lynch as its 2026 New York State Secondary School Assistant Principal of the Year.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janet Warden called the award “a tremendous honor,” which recognizes Lynch’s “leadership, innovation, and deep commitment to students.”
Lynch is “an exceptional colleague and an extraordinary advocate for children. She leads with heart, purpose, and creativity, always centering her work on what is best for students,” Warden said. “Colleen connects with students in a way that makes them feel seen, supported and valued. Her work has strengthened school culture and created meaningful opportunities for students to thrive.”
The award is given annually to a middle or high school assistant principal who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, strengthened school culture, and ensured high-quality educational opportunities for all students.
Lynch, who did not seek out the honor but was nominated by Principal Dr. Kyle Roddey with input from other staff and students, played a key role in elevating the high school’s graduation rate from 87% to 95% in one year. One of her earliest priorities upon joining the school was strengthening the school’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports. The MTSS committee she established and leads, which is “composed of teachers, counselors, and mental health professionals,” she explained, “takes a comprehensive approach to evaluating and implementing academic, behavioral and social-emotional interventions that promote student safety and well-being. our work extends beyond developing plans of action; we ensure that each plan is implemented with fidelity.”

Her accomplishments and responsibilities are numerous:

• As chair of the Building-Level Safety Committee, Lynch collaborates with administrators, school resource officers and mental health professionals to ensure a safe environment. She has led the planning and execution of safety drills, developed threat assessment procedures, conducted tabletop exercises and coordinated trauma-informed assemblies. Most recently, she created and implemented an off-campus evacuation drill for the entire building, designing safety maps and a chain-of-command chart to ensure a thoughtful, organized operation.
• She chairs the school’s Section 504 Committee, collaborating closely with families, teachers, counselors and mental health professionals to ensure that accommodations remove barriers to learning. She encourages students to take an active role in their plans, fostering self-advocacy and independence. She has developed new teacher feedback tools, delivered professional development on legal compliance and equitable practices, and implemented systems to ensure consistent monitoring of student support plans.
• Lynch regularly supports the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance, and also meets monthly with a rotating panel of students, gathering their insights on school culture, policies and instructional practices. “The insights gained from these conversations directly inform administrative decisions and school improvement initiatives,” Lynch explained.

Roddey said Lynch “cares deeply about student well-being and is a fierce student advocate. She consistently provides thoughtful ideas and initiatives to make all students feel welcomed.”
Colleagues describe Lynch as a visible, compassionate, and highly effective leader. One teacher wrote in a letter of support for the award nomination, “Her approach includes being a visible presence in the school, where students frequently visit her office not just for administrative matters but as a trusted resource. (She) cultivates a culture of inclusivity and support, where every individual feels valued and heard.”
Lynch holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from SUNY New Paltz. Outside of school, she is an active community volunteer with Special Olympics and the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley.
Lynch will be recognized at the School Administrators Association of New York State’s annual awards celebration in Albany in May. As New York’s Secondary School Assistant Principal of the Year, Lynch is a candidate for the National Assistant Principal of the Year award, sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
Warden said Red Hook is “fortunate” to have her in its schools.
“Colleen is a joy to work with, she is funny, thoughtful, reflective and deeply collaborative,” the superintendent said. “Our district is better because of her leadership, and our students are better because of her care.”