Homer High School Welcomes New Vice-Principal

On January 20, 2016, Homer High School will say goodbye to beloved vice-principal, Mrs. Karen Lang. Unquestionably, Mrs. Lang has made Homer High School a better place for all students, teachers, and administrators. Students and staff speak with one voice when they wish her a well-deserved retirement.

Although Mrs. Lang leaves large shoes to fill, Mrs. Kara Schneider is prepared to accept the challenge.

A native of Upstate New York, Mrs. Schneider was raised in Harpursville and graduated from Harpursville High School. She participated in both the academic and athletic fields, demonstrated leadership as a class officer, and graduated as valedictorian. Mrs. Schneider received her Bachelors of Science in Psychology from the University of Maryland. Her graduate work was completed in Biology and Education at SUNY Cortland.

Mrs. Schneider first entered the educational system when she was accepted into Teach for America, an organization that enlists recent college graduates to teach in low-income communities. She was assigned to the New Visions High School in New Orleans where she taught algebra and biology.

After her time in New Orleans, Mrs. Schneider returned to Upstate New York and received a position at Rome Free Academy in Rome, New York, teaching biology for seven years. She performed her administrative internship at Rome; she eventually became the Assistant Principal at East Syracuse-Minoa, serving for three years.

One may ask why Mrs. Schneider decided to apply for the vice-principal position at Homer High School. Due to her rural upbringing, she explains, she felt an attraction to a career in a smaller, tight-knit community. She wanted her job “to have a community-feel.” Since they now live in Homer, Mrs. Schneider is excited that her two children will be part of the close community: her daughter is in second-grade at Homer Elementary School and her son will begin kindergarten in the fall of 2017.

Mrs. Schneider believes that the 2016-2017 school year will be “a learning year” as she begins to carry the vice-principal’s standard. When asked about the ideas she brings to the school, she responded with a desire to continue building the relationships between staff and students. She passionately believes in giving support to those students who require it. Mrs. Schneider would like others to know that her door is always open. She will have an open line of communication to any student, teacher, administrator, or parent that needs it.

Homer High School welcomes Mrs. Schneider into its tightly-knit community and has hope that her time as vice-principal will bring students, staff, and parents all the more closer together.