Patrick Corrigan is new high school associate principal

Patrick Corrigan was working as a data analyst on Wall Street in New York City back in 1991 when he heard his company was planning a round of layoffs.

Corrigan didn’t particularly enjoy the job he’d been doing for about six years, so he wasn’t really nervous about being laid off.

“I told my girlfriend at the time, ‘Boy, I hope they fire me tomorrow.’ But they didn’t,” he said.

Corrigan wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, but he knew it wasn’t crunching numbers, and a friend soon convinced him he should become a teacher. Sixteen years later, he is Clayton A. Bouton High School’s new associate principal.

Corrigan, who is in his seventh year at the Voorheesville district, replaces Michael Paolino, who left to become principal at Guilderland High School.

In his new position, Corrigan will assist in the overall management of the high school, oversee student discipline, assist in management and evaluation of classroom instruction, as well as numerous other tasks. He won’t assume his new duties until district officials choose someone to take over his post as chairman of the social studies department. In the meantime, Edward Diegel is serving as interim associate principal.

Diegel was the principal of Voorheesville Elementary School for 15 years, retiring after the 2003-04 school year. He was appointed to the post in September.

District officials hope to appoint a new department chair sometime in December.

“It’s going to depend upon who we think can best fit the position,” Corrigan said.

Corrigan, 43, grew up in Westchester County and earned a bachelors degree in economics from the University at Albany. He later earned his master’s degree from SUNY Brockport and his administrative certificate from Albany.
Corrigan applied for the associate principal’s job because he felt he was ready for a new challenge and feels he can have a strong impact on students.

“I’m excited to get started,” he said.