CBA adds new heads

Christian Brothers Academy in Colonie will start the school year with new leadership:

* James Schlegel, former assistant principal at the school, was named principal. Mr. Schlegel replaces Dave McGuire, who retired in June.

* Brother Daniel Brenner, FSC, is the new assistant principal for academics. Most recently, he served as director of curriculum and instruction at the Academy of the Holy Names in Tampa, Florida. He has taught at other schools in the northeast run by the Christian Brothers, including CBA.

* Thomas Reinisch is the new assistant principal for student activities. Mr. Reinisch comes to the school from Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, where he served as director of athletics.

* Continuing on the administrative team is Marty McGraw, the assistant principal for the junior high.

The quartet of administrators are looking forward to the start of the school's 149th academic year. "There are not a lot of schools or businesses that have been around as long," Mr. McGraw stated. "The Christian Brothers are doing something right."

While history and traditions are important, Brother Dan said that changes in technology have given educators the opportunity to reach students in different ways.

"There is so much [technology] out there to take advantage of," he told The Evangelist. "There is so much to help students."

Mr. Reinisch said he is pleased to be a part of the CBA community.

"I'm part of a good team," he said. "The commitment to students here is neat."

The school has 455 students enrolled in grades six through 12. They hail from 11 of the Albany Diocese's 14 counties: Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington.

Brother Dan has been impressed with how well the students interact despite their diverse backgrounds: One boy might be from inner city Albany and his classmate might be coming from a farm in the Catskills, he noted, yet their CBA experience unites them.

"We're drawing students from all over and they work so well together," he said.

(08/21/08)