Back to Cohocton Elementary

“As administrators, teachers, parents, faculty and staff, we have a shared responsibility for EACH child in this community. They come to us from different backgrounds, with different goals, dreams and experiences. It is our job to take a personal interest in them, support and foster their growth and development daily, and then watch with pride at the end of the day, when they leave more capable, confident and ready to face any challenge or obstacle that awaits them!”  

 ~ Kelly Becker, Cohocton Elementary Principal
    KBecker@wccsk12.org

Kelly Becker, Cohocton Elementary Principal

Ms. Becker recently joined the Wayland-Cohocton team as the Cohocton Elementary Principal in the spring of 2009.

"We travel the world to find what it is we are looking for…and then, we return HOME to find it," said Ms. Becker. "This quote seems to fit my life at this time…adventures and experiences have given me knowledge and skills, and now, returning to the very district I grew up going to, where I can become ONE MORE PERSON within its walls making a difference for the kids that walk through its doors!"

Ms. Becker grew up in Wayland, graduated from Wayland-Cohocton in 1996 and left for Poughkeepsie, New York, where she attended Marist College. After obtaining dual certification in Special Education and Elementary Education, a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Educational Psychology, she decided to trade the Hudson River for sun and palm trees, teaching fifth grade special education and Title 1 Reading in Kauai, Hawaii. After Hawaii, she again returned to Poughkeepsie, where she taught first grade in the Arlington School District.

"It was there in Room 5, with my 28 unique, individual students of different cultures, backgrounds and abilities that I realized the impact that a positive educational environment can have on the lives of children…who they are and who they will become," said Ms. Becker. "As a teacher, I valued having the ability to instill in children the skills for academic success, but, at the very same time, create a community based on kindness, hard work and mutual respect. I began to wonder if this type of educational community could be extended school wide."

Ms. Becker decided to pursue her administrative certification at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Leadership Academy in North Adams, Mass. where she received a School District Administrator Certification. Upon completion, she began working at Dutchess County BOCES as an administrative staff development specialist in SETRC (Special Education Training and Resource Center) which is part of a statewide technical assistance network that collaborates with State Education Department offices and other state-funded networks to support districts in improving outcomes for students with disabilities and addressing issues of disproportionality and overrepresentation. She helped to coach targeted districts in root-cause analysis/problem solving and solution identification processes that form the basis for comprehensive district professional development plans. She also provided job-embedded professional development in areas such as special education instructional delivery, positive behavior modifications and research based instructional strategies for improving literacy. After two years at BOCES she was ready to take all that she had learned, put theory into practice and return to the building level…which has brought her back to Wayland-Cohocton!

Ms. Becker loves spending time her family, hiking, kayaking and enjoying everything that beautiful Western New York has to offer. "Sports are also a big part of my life, whether playing basketball with my nephews, traveling out to NY to watch the Yankees or playing tennis here in Cohocton," she added. "Perhaps eventually I'll have to challenge Mr. Campbell to a duel out on that kickball field!"

Ms. Becker will be working cooperatively with the Administrative team and with the Cohocton Building as staff and students begin returning from spring break.