Croton-Harmon’s spirit of innovation and educational leadership was on full display when Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School Principal Kerri Bianchi and Assistant Principal Craig Campanaro took the stage at the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) Conference. Their presentation, titled “What School Can Be,” reflected more than just a theme; it represented the district’s ongoing commitment to imagining, designing, and daring to create schools where students and teachers thrive.

At the heart of their session were CET’s key areas of innovation: class design, master scheduling, and grading and assessment. Bianchi and Campanaro shared how CET is rethinking the traditional model of elementary education by designing flexible, multi-age classroom experiences, building collaborative schedules that make space for creativity, and exploring new ways to demonstrate and celebrate student growth that move beyond conventional grading. Each shift represents a thoughtful risk in an effort to make learning more authentic, connected, and meaningful for students.

Superintendent Walker praised Mrs. Bianchi and Mr. Campanaro for their leadership and the way they represented the district at a statewide level. “Kerri and Craig are exactly the right people to share this story,” he said. “They bring both vision and practicality to their work, and their presentation reflected the thoughtful, collaborative spirit that defines our district.”

Educators from across New York were deeply impressed by the scale and success of CET’s work, particularly that such transformative practices are thriving in a public school setting. Many remarked on the extraordinary enthusiasm of CET’s faculty and staff, who have embraced these changes with excitement and ownership, contributing their own innovative ideas and helping the work evolve in inspiring ways.

Through their presentation, Mrs. Bianchi and Mr. Campanaro reaffirmed Croton-Harmon’s leadership in shaping the future of public education - where curiosity drives innovation, collaboration fuels progress, and “what school can be” is not just an idea, but a daily pursuit.