At the end of last year, we announced Alyssa Stolarcyk as the next Assistant Principal of Castleton Elementary School. Now officially a couple of weeks into her new role, we checked in with a Q&A so the school district community could learn a bit more about Ms. Stolarcyk before the year starts.

Tell us a bit about your background.

I graduated from G. Ray Bodley High School in Fulton, NY in 2006 and went on to earn my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Le Moyne College in 2010. I then completed my Master’s/Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in School Psychology from SUNY Oswego in 2014. Most recently, I earned my CAS in Educational Leadership from Binghamton University in 2025.

I spent 11 years working as a school psychologist in the Southern Tier of New York State, and I really loved the work. I had the opportunity to work closely with students, families, and staff, and that experience reinforced just how important relationships and teamwork are when it comes to supporting kids.

Over time, I found myself wanting to have a bigger impact on the school community as a whole, which led me into administration. I worked as an administrator during the 2025–26 school year, and it was such a rewarding experience. This summer, my husband’s career brought our family to the Capital Region, and that opened the door to this next chapter for us. I’m really excited that it led me to Castleton Elementary!

What drew you to the CES Assistant Principal position and Schodack as a place to work?

My husband, Kurt, and I recently moved to East Greenbush with our two daughters, Amelia and Sophia, and we quickly fell in love with the area. As I started learning more about Schodack, I really liked the strong sense of community and the genuine focus on students.

As I learned more about the district and CES in particular, it felt like a really good fit. I love the elementary school level and everything that comes with it—the energy, the excitement, and getting to be part of such an important time in a child’s life. I was excited about the opportunity to work with students and families while also supporting a great group of educators.

Being new to the community, I am looking forward to learning from the people who know this district and CES best.

Right off the bat, what do you want the school district community to know about you and your work style?

I like getting to know people, hearing their ideas, and making sure people feel comfortable coming to me. I think trust and good communication are really important, and I try to bring a positive attitude with me every day.

I’m very collaborative. I don’t think I have all the answers, and I really value the experience and perspective of the people around me. I want to be someone who listens, works alongside others, and helps find solutions.

Most importantly, I want people to know that I’m here for the students and I’m here to support our faculty and staff. I’m not afraid to jump in, help out, and get my hands dirty when needed! I’m excited to be part of the day-to-day life at CES.

Alyssa Stolarcyk and Family

Alyssa Stolarcyk & Family

Finally, what’s life like outside of work?

Outside of school, life is pretty busy—but in the best way! Kurt and I are often running around to our daughters’ activities and enjoying time together as a family. You might find us golfing, skiing, going to concerts and music festivals, and really just finding fun things to do together.

We’ve also had lots of fun exploring the Capital Region and finding some new favorite spots! If you have any ideas or recommendations for what to see or do next, I’d love to hear them!