Principal back for third time at Spa Catholic

When Christopher Signor recently became principal at Saratoga Central Catholic High School, he didn't need a map to find his way around the building.

Mr. Signor, a parishioner of St. Clement's Church in Saratoga Springs, had walked the halls as a student (class of 1984) and again when he started his teaching career.

Now, after 15 years as a teacher and administrator in local public school systems, he has returned a third time, saying that he feels "called" and excited to take the principal's chair.

'Opportunity'

"It's a time of change and a tremendous opportunity," he said, labeling Spa Catholic a school that had a defining effect on his life.

He recalls academics, serving as a captain for two varsity sports teams, planning proms and dances, and doing community service projects.

"A lot of my early leadership training came from [Spa Catholic]," Mr. Signor said. "I'm very grateful for this school. I would not have been prepared for college if it weren't for this school."

Teaching career

Mr. Signor didn't see himself as a teacher until he began to play pick-up basketball with one of the school's coaches shortly after graduating from college.

Seeing that Mr. Signor was unenthusiastic about a job he was about to take in Boston, the coach brought up the possibility of his becoming a teacher. He applied to Spa Catholic and was hired.

"It was Providence," he said.

New calling

Mr. Signor felt the same force at work when he was encouraged to apply for the principal's position.

He and his wife, Deana, prayed about the decision. In the end, they decided he should take a pay cut to return to Spa Catholic.

"My faith is everything," he said. "I wouldn't be here without it. It's a faith that allowed me to ask the questions [about the change], and a faith that allowed me to accept the answers."

Ideas for future

With the new principal come some new ideas for the school. For example, he hopes to turn the current junior high into a middle school, which will add a sixth grade, and shift the way classes are taught to those grades.

"It's premature" to talk about his plans, he admitted, because the Diocese has not yet given the go-ahead for the school and informational meetings will occur in September.

"Sixth, seventh and eighth grades develop their own culture, sports and curriculum to deal with their own special needs," he mused. "You have to have teachers that are dedicated to that level. You can't just add a grade. You need teachers with a very unique skill set. Patience is at the top, [followed by] empathy and a tremendous developmental knowledge. They need to understand the curriculum, the needs of the students."

Goals

Mr. Signor is enthusiastic about meeting the students and hopes that the school will help them reach more than just academic success.

"Students learn justice from care providers," he explained. "If they teach that justice is punitive, they are not getting a true indication of the love and justice of God. It's a false theology. Kids are forgiven here and taught appropriate ways to behave. When all is said and done, we are teaching them about justice and forgiveness."

Mr. Signor hopes that Spa Catholic becomes a place where students can address big questions, such as "Who are we? Where do we come from? What better way for an adolescent to come into their own than to ask these questions in a safe, supportive environment?"

Sprucing up

Mr. Signor comes to a school with some new touches. Over the summer, 60 students and six parents helped the school's maintenance staff paint and refurbish Spa Catholic classrooms and hallways. The school also plans to install new carpets, flooring, electrical systems and technology labs.

The chapel will be renovated and named St. Joseph's Chapel in honor of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, who taught there years ago.

Another change is small, but potent: The school's "start time" has been moved from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. to accommodate adolescents' sleep needs and schedules, and the distance from Glens Falls and Clifton Park to Saratoga.

Memories

Mr. Signor hopes to bring some of his own family's history to the school's future.

The Signors have long been involved with Catholic education in Saratoga Springs. In 1934, Mr. Signor's grandfather graduated from St. Peter's Academy, the precursor to Spa Catholic. He also played basketball in the cafeteria, which Mr. Signor's grandmother helped to run for 30 years. His father, Ralph, was also a graduate.

"My entire memory was Spa Catholic," he said. "The school has always been such a part of my life. My family has always seen the best, the brightest, the shiniest in the Catholic schools. The world has changed around the kids. Parents are demanding high academic standards, and we're committed to that -- as well as keeping the Catholic school mission in front of everything we do."

(8/18/05) [[In-content Ad]]