‘SIGN’ UP!

For 42 years, Christopher Signor’s grandmother, Louise, ran the cafeteria at St. Peter’s Academy in Saratoga. 

She left for work at St. Peter’s every morning while her son (Signor’s father) was in kindergarten at the school. She monitored the school’s lunches up until her grandson graduated: “When I walked across the graduation stage in eighth grade, that’s when she retired,” he said. “She made sure everyone was well fed.”

A devout Catholic, she helped raise her grandson with the same dedication to faith and a faith-focused education. Signor said the Church and Catholic schooling “was the epicenter of our world.”

He went on to become a third-generation alumnus from Saratoga Central Catholic High School, after his father and grandfather. Now, Signor serves as principal for Catholic Central High School in Troy, where his devotion to faith and education hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Signor will be honored with the Bishop Howard J. Hubbard Distinguished Administrator Award at this year’s 2020-21 Catholic Schools Week Mass on Friday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m., at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany.

The Bishop Howard J. Hubbard Distinguished Administrator Award recognizes an administrator who demonstrates strong leadership, who is affable to the Church community as well as teachers and parents, and who promotes Catholic education and fosters a curriculum around God’s truth.

Much like all Catholic schools in the Albany Diocese — and across the country — Catholic Central faced a tough and turbulent year from COVID-19. Yet CCHS’ teachers and administrators found a way to persevere in the face of remote learning and a global pandemic, all under Signor’s guiding hand.

Signor was humble about his nomination and quick to note that so many teachers and principals deserve recognition for their efforts during the pandemic.

“All of my colleagues, I know how hard they had to work this year, and all the curveballs they had to dodge,” Signor said. “Every school has done a tremendous job; the Diocese has done a tremendous job in providing high quality education.”

Starting in the fall, Catholic Central gave its families the option to attend school remotely or in-person. Approximately 50-60 percent of the student body attends school from home through either Google Classroom or Google Meet. The former program was already in place at CCHS prior to the pandemic, which made it easier for teachers to adapt to the new learning circumstances.
“It’s a huge testament to the quality of education our teachers are providing,” Signor added. “They can keep kids engaged on a seven-hour schedule while other kids are home at their kitchen table.”

Signor earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s degree in social studies education from the University of Albany. He previously served as principal of Saratoga Central Catholic High School and worked as a social studies teacher in both Catholic and public schools.

Signor also served as principal of Bishop Maginn High School in Albany from 2015-18 before making the jump to Catholic Central. Despite switching schools, Signor promises there’s no question on where his loyalty lies: “We’re all on the same team,” he said with a laugh.

As for the upcoming year, Catholic Central is looking forward to the new addition of a sixth-grade class. Signor prays the pandemic will be better controlled come fall so incoming students can receive that important face-to-face interaction when meeting their teachers, making new friends and learning what it means to be a Crusader.