Questar III Chief School Improvement Officer Terry Bordell

Terry Bordell joined Questar III in April as our Chief School Improvement Officer. Read on to learn about his background and what excites him about being part of our team.

How do you support our BOCES and school districts in your role?
As the Chief School Improvement Officer, I provide leadership to several excellent programs including: Staff Development, Regional Bilingual Education Resources (RBERN), Data Analysis Services, Puerto Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PRHYLI), School Library Services, Model Schools, Regional Scoring, Home Schooling, Leadership Coaches, and more. As you can see, School Improvement provides support to both BOCES and districts in many ways.

What is your background (college, previous jobs, etc.)?
I come to Questar III most recently from the City School District of Albany, where I was a district administrator. Before that, I worked for Chatham Central School District as an English Teacher and Secondary English Teacher-Leader, and eventually as the Assistant Principal of Chatham High School and District Coordinator of Teacher-Leaders. I began my career teaching middle school ELA in Phoenix, Arizona. I hold a B.S. in Secondary English Education from Buffalo State College, an M.A. in English from Northern Arizona University, and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Why did you enter the field of public education?
I entered the field of public education because I love to see students enjoy learning. To be a part of the educational journey of, at this point in my career, literally thousands of young people, allows me to reflect on my career path and know, undoubtedly, that I made the right choice. While my roles have changed over the years, the one guiding principle for me has always been to ask the question, ‘Is this what’s best for kids?’ From the perspective of a young, rookie teacher in the desert Southwest, to that of Chief School Improvement Officer for Questar III today, putting students first is why I entered this field and why I continue in it.

What do you like most about your new role?
First off, the people I am working with at Questar III! They have been so welcoming, and are such a strong, talented collective. Additionally, I really enjoy the diversity in my days. Given the large scope of School Improvement, no two days have been similar, and new challenges arise throughout each day.

Tell us about your life outside Questar III.
My wife, Candi, is also in public education, serving as an elementary ENL teacher for Scotia-Glenville Central School District. We have a just-turned-eleven-year-old daughter, Sophie, who is a student at Bethlehem Central School District. I have coached Sophie’s travel basketball team for multiple seasons, which is something that I absolutely love to do. We like to travel, near and far, as a family. Personally, I am an avid reader, I really enjoy listening to all kinds of music, and I love films, especially watching them at the Spectrum 8 Theater in Albany. I am also a diehard fan of the Syracuse Orange, NY Yankees, and Buffalo Bills.

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