The Fayetteville-Manlius Board of Education appointed two new assistant principals during its May 13 meeting. Shaena Brasz will fill the role at Wellwood Middle School, as current Assistant Principal Alexis Thorpe has been appointed Principal of Fayetteville Elementary School, and Tom Cheevers will assist principals across all three F-M elementary schools.
“We are excited to implement the F-M Elementary School Assistant Principal position, adding an extra layer of support for the students and staff at Enders, Fayetteville and Mott Road elementary schools,” said Dr. Craig Tice, Superintendent of Schools. “This new role, in part, will help support our efforts to improve continuity, collaboration and communication among our three elementary school buildings.”
This restructured elementary administrative assignment expands upon the duties of the former Elementary Dean of Students/Administrative Intern position that had been in existence for the past couple of years.
Shaena Brasz earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education in Early Childhood from the University at Buffalo. She later earned a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Niagara University. Brasz joins the team at Wellwood with 18 years of experience in education. She began her career teaching third and fifth grade at Southside Academy Charter School in Syracuse, where she later became a special education teacher. Brasz has served as a special education teacher and consultant at OCM BOCES, a Special Education Independent Evaluator with the Syracuse City School District, and most recently, Vice Principal at Roberts PreK-8 School. Brasz is a familiar face at Wellwood Middle School, where she acted as an Administrative Intern for the 2022-23 school year.
“While at Wellwood, I was able to get to know many of the students, families, and staff,” explained Brasz. “I hope to continue to support the building in the areas of special education, DEI, restorative practices, and personalized learning. As an F-M alum, I am honored to have the opportunity to be part of the Wellwood administrative team.”
In her role as an administrative intern, Brasz oversaw student discipline, led teams of teachers, and collaborated with district-level leadership.
“Shaena will be a valuable addition to our school community, bringing with her a wealth of educational knowledge and experiences,” said Trisha Fogarty, Principal at Wellwood Middle School. “We are so excited to welcome her back to Wellwood and the F-M district!“
Tom Cheevers earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education in Inclusive Childhood Education from Nazareth University. He later earned a Certificate in Advanced Study (CAS) in School Building & District Leadership from the University of Rochester.
“Both Shaena and Tom bring strong backgrounds in special education to our team, which we know will be extremely important and valuable in continuing to create inclusive, welcoming, and affirming environments across our school buildings,“ added Superintendent Tice.
Cheevers has taught at Horizons at Nazareth University, Bay Trail Middle School, and Victor Intermediate School. While at Victor Central School District, Cheevers also served the role of Extended School Year Coordinator, Special Education Teacher Leader, and Extended School Year Principal. Since 2022, Cheevers has filled the role of Assistant Principal at Victor Intermediate School.
“I’m so looking forward to joining the F-M team and supporting your students, staff, and families,” said Cheevers.
Brasz and Cheevers will both start in their roles on July 1, 2024.