Ulster BOCES Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning at Port Ewen (CITL-PE) and Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning at Anna Devine (CITL-AD) have appointed new principals. Richard Karl Meng-Haviland will now serve as principal of the CITL-PE and Gwen Kramer-Gold will take the lead at the CITL-AD. Both campuses provide education for students identified as needing specialized programs and/or supports.

Haviland is a graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz where he earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Education. Since 2018 he has served as the school’s assistant principal, and before that he taught math and science at Hudson Valley Pathways Academy for four years.

Kramer-Gold received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, Master of Science Degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College, and Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from the State University of New York at SUNY New Paltz. She is no stranger to Ulster BOCES, where she was a she was a Special Education teacher for 12 years as well as a teacher on special assignment for one of those years. She was also an assistant principal at CITL-PE for one year. 

According to Ulster BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Charles Khoury, Haviland and Kramer-Gold are experienced educators with the educational skillsets to make them natural choices for the positions. In addition to their administrative knowledge and experience, Khoury said, “Karl and Gwen are both intuitive and possess calming natures, which are beneficial characteristics for both the students, their families, and staff.”

Khoury also liked that both Haviland and Kramer-Gold have been part of the Ulster BOCES team for years. “They are both familiar with the Ulster BOCES culture and our unwavering dedication to the students.”