POTSDAM – Potsdam Central will have new high school and elementary principals to start the next school year, having hired two candidates with experience in St. Lawrence County.

The Board of Education officially approved the new principals at a school board meeting Tuesday night.

Gray has been a teacher in Massena for about nine years having spent time teaching fifth grade and pre-kindergarten. She currently works at Nightengale Elementary School.

“The committee was impressed with Jennifer…she is students-centered and very bright,” Chambers said. “Her references cited her organizational skills, interpersonal skills and warm personality.”

Gray was one of nine candidates and three finalists for the elementary principal position, she said.

“She will be a great fit for that building,” Chambers said.

Benedict is an instructional support teacher at Salmon River, having previously been the principal and assistant principal there as well, Chambers said.

She has eleven years experience as an English teacher and spent one year teaching native studies at Massena Central.

Benedict was one of seven high school principal candidates and one of two finalists, Chambers said.

[img_assist|nid=170764|title=Benedict|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=200|height=161]Chambers said the Board of Education cited Benedict’s upbeat personality and professionalism as factors for her hiring.

“For me personally, I was impressed with her commitment to the success of each student,” Chambers said.

Chambers credited Benedict with changes at Salmon River that significantly increased the in graduation rates at Salmon River.

Benedict also helped coordinate a night school program for students needing extra help.

“She will be a great role model for students,” Chambers said. “She is a mom of teenagers, so I think that will help in her understanding of adolescents.”

Benedict said she is excited to begin the principal position this July and can’t wait to meet students and staff.

Chambers said the administrative process of hiring is to create a committee of three teachers, three parents and three support staff to create criteria, look through applications and host an initial interview.

From there finalists meet with the Board of Education, administrative members and support staff for a second interview.

“This was a challenging year…but I want to thank the community for their support and thank the administrators who helped keep us afloat,” Chambers said.

Two interim principals, Wayne Walbridge and Julie Welch, filled in at the elementary level after Shannon Pitcher-Boyea of Malone stepped down Oct. 26, 2015, from the permanent position she was appointed to earlier in the year.

Randy Johnson, former K-12 principal at Colton-Pierrepont Central School, was an interim high school principal until this January when Dean of Students and Athletic Director Mark Wilson took over.

Chambers said she appreciated the cooperation and flexibility of staff, and that without it, this year could have been very different.

Both women begin their new positions on July 1.