In September, the state Education Department announced it is moving forward with the next phase of its NY Inspires initiative which is, among other elements, altering graduation requirements and the high school experience to place greater emphasis on building knowledge and skills, moving progressively toward a more competency-based system.

This has created confusion for some and, certain news headlines focused on changes to Regents examinations, have added to that. 

At Red Hook, we've launched a webpage to answer many of the questions you may have, which is located at redhookcentralschools.org/ny-inspires. Please take a look. The page also includes details of what the district and Red Hook High School, specifically, has been doing to prepare for these changes.

Most importantly, remember graduation requirements for the Class of 2027 have not changed. While the requirement to pass certain Regents exams would end with the Class of 2028, pending final approval in February, the tests would still be administered and remain a measurement of student achievement.

Students of all grades should continue to operate accordingly.

Winners Circle Project, an innovative career exposure and mentorship program in which three classes of students learn through operating as a real auto racing team, launched this month at Red Hook High School. It's among several new class options this year.

The three classes include Visual Communications taught by Joseph Monson, Marketing with Patty Buononato, and Stephen Hutman’s Build course. The students receive guidance on effectively operating in a variety of career fields through dedicated mentorship and experiential field trips, while competing against other high schools in the program.

After the parts for the physical car arrived early in the month, the program kicked into high gear  with an orientation event in which leadership from the Winners Circle organization guided students and teachers through teambuilding exercises. You can read more here.

The students are operating under the name Red Hook Racing, and are in the early stages of forming their logo, mission statement and promotional materials. Follow @redhookracing on Instagram and TikTok, and RedHook Racing on Facebook throughout the year to watch their progress.

Winners Circle is among a wide range of career preparation courses available at Red Hook, including 17 other technology and trades courses in woodworking, metal working and engineering. The high school's Welding I course is also launching this school year in the second semester.

Mill Road this year added a pavilion classroom space outside the grades 3-5 library, expanding the elementary school's resources for outdoor instruction. Read more about what it will be used for here.

The school also added additional playground equipment.

As part of a capital improvement proposition approved in May 2025, Red Hook High School's classroom hallway bathrooms were completely renovated over the summer. Remediation of the spaces following last school year's fire was completed in early July and the pre-planned renovations commenced directly afterward.

A small space next to the second-floor art room was renovated and prepared to have a kiln installed, under a capital project approved by residents. The kiln is scheduled to arrive in the coming days. The room also features a sink.

Nicole Gardner joined the Red Hook Central School District last month as Director of Pupil Personnel Services.

The department is responsible for providing a range of programs and services to students with learning differences and includes teaching staff, school psychologists, counselors, school social workers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and physical therapists.

“Red Hook’s mission to empower students to embrace today and navigate the possibilities of tomorrow strongly resonates with my own educational philosophy,” she said.

Dr. Kitty Summers, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Staff Development, called Gardner “a consistent advocate for creating equitable learning communities and opportunities, fostering strong partnerships and championing pathways for students to grow into lifelong learners.” She added, her “collaborative, solution-focused approach to student success will be a valuable asset to our district.”

Read more about Gardner and her first month in the district here.

For the first time since 2005, the Raiders sports programs entered fall with a new director of athletics.

Quintin Johnson was appointed the Red Hook Central School District's Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics at the end of last school year. It marks a return for Johnson, who served as a physical education teacher at Mill Road from 2011 to 2017.

Tom Cassata, after leading the athletics department for 21 years, officially retired Aug. 14.

Under Cassata, Red Hook has perennially been a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete School of Excellence, with athletes succeeding in a wide variety of sports. In September 2025, he was presented the Dr. William F. Moran Service Award, given by Section 9 each year to “an educator … universally recognized as representing the highest educational standards." The athletic director was also a driving force in renovating the high school’s gymnasium and the ongoing field renovation projects.

Johnson penned an introductory letter to the community at the outset of his first preseason, which you can read here.

Martha Strever, Linden Avenue Middle School’s math teacher of 65 years, was presented with the American Federation of Teachers Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual convention in Washington D.C. in July. Read about it, and watch the presentation, here.

Members of the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janet Warden engaged in a Board Retreat and workshop session in mid-August, in which the members worked to increase collaboration, build a greater understanding of their responsibilities and identify goals and priorities for the coming school year. Read more here.