News
Long-time teacher, coach and administrator bids Mohonasen farewell
Oct. 6, 2008
For
the last 23 years, the Mohonasen community has been like family to
Lin Severance. Now, on Oct. 10, this long-time district teacher,
coach and administrator will bid Mohonasen farewell and start a new
chapter of her career as the assistant superintendent for human
resources for the Guilderland Central School District.
“I felt like I grew up here,” Severance said of Mohonasen. “Working here has been a wonderful experience.”
Severance came to Mohonasen in 1985 as a teacher intern and then a special education teacher. Over the years she served as a JV and varsity volleyball coach, the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) advisor, the founder and co-chair of the Mohonasen Homecoming, a Mock Trial advisor, the graduation speaker contest coordinator, the committee on special education chairperson and director of pupil personnel services (PPS). Her most recent position has been director for student and personnel services and grant development.
She has a Bachelor’s Degree from SUNY Geneseo, a Master’s from SUNY Albany and a PhD from Texas A&M University.
Over the years, Severance has stayed in touch with both her special education students and her volleyball players. One of the most satisfying things, she said, has been watching her students grow from teenagers to young adults to adults with families and children.
Through the years, she said, her goal was always to become the director of pupil services—a position that was, for years, influx.
“I felt like I needed to step up,” she said of her decision to become an administrator. “The department had been through a lot of turnover and I wanted to bring it back together and move it forward.”
As to why she wanted to be the PPS director, she said, “I had made a commitment to educating students with disabilities and expanded that to providing all kinds of services to all students. I wanted people to think about students differently—I wanted people to think about what every child needs to be successful.
“I enjoyed being the director of PPS here,” she said. “It has been very satisfying working with dedicated professionals that have the best interests of their students in mind.”
In her current position, Severance functioned in a human resources capacity and this sparked an interest in other aspects of human resources, like negotiations and benefits. These interests drew her to her new job, which she says offers her an opportunity to grow and learn.
Severance’s post at Mohonasen will not be immediately filled. Her duties will be split between Academic Administrator Chris Ruberti, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Patrick McGrath, Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Swezey and Director for Special and Alternative Education Karla Empie.
“Lin is one of the most dedicated educators that I know,” Empie said. “Her energy and passion for the students of Mohonasen will be missed.”
