Mentor of year named

Thomas Gould, interim principal of St. James School in Albany, was named Mentor of the Year at the recent "Excellence in Educational Leadership" awards dinner, hosted by the Capital District Association for Women in Administration.

He was nominated by Margaret Gannon, principal of St. Luke's School in Schenectady. She is a first-time principal who relied on Mr. Gould's expertise, support and wisdom over the past year as part of the mentoring program of the Albany diocesan Catholic School Office.

Ms. Gannon said that Mr. Gould "spent many hours sharing his experiences and knowledge by being a mentor to me. When I assumed my first administrative role last July, I was immediately confronted with a series of significant problems. Some of them seemed almost unsolvable. These challenges involved every aspect of my responsibilities from curriculum to budgeting, from student conduct to personnel. He was there for me as a mentor, a sounding board and coach.

"He listens, offers encouragement, shares his thoughts and ideas, and draws upon his experiences to help identify possibilities and alternatives. I can look to him for ideas and suggestions without any corresponding sense of obligation to follow the advice if I choose to handle things differently.

"Everything has been done in a very professional, matter-of-fact way, without ever a hint of judgment or condescension. Without being obvious about it, he has always acknowledged my leadership, affirmed my competence and respected my judgment."

(6/10/04)