Board of Education to Begin Statewide Search for New School Leader
Dr. Patrick McGrath, Jr. has announced that at the end of the school year he is closing out his 14-year run as the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School District’s sixth superintendent. His planned retirement marks the end of an era as he prepares to usher in new leadership and hand over the responsibilities of the many diverse roles required to successfully run a school district.
Throughout his years at BH-BL, many could probably characterize Dr. McGrath as the person in a suit and tie at board meetings, the one setting goals, navigating school budgets, and outlining forward thinking visions for the district. Others might fondly describe him as one of the people in a Spartan jacket on the athletic fields or gym sidelines. Still, some might simply refer to him as one of the chaperones on O’Rourke’s Gettysburg field trips or the guy helping rake leaves or plant seeds with the students in the Impact Club. Families might recollect him as the person who brings his own family to school plays, art shows and concerts. Others certainly recognize him as the loyal leader at every ceremony, science exhibit, and academic achievement celebration. And, 14 years worth of BH-BL graduates undoubtedly remember him as the first person to shake their hand and congratulate them when they walked across the graduation stage.
Regardless of how people remember their experiences or interactions with Dr. McGrath, a singular truth defines his tenure: in every role he carried out, he always prioritized and championed the students, the staff, and the BH-BL community first.
The Board of Education has been preparing for Dr. McGrath’s announcement and is poised to begin the search for a new superintendent within a few weeks. Because it’s often a lengthy process, it’s generally best practice for a retiring superintendent to give the Board early notice to allow ample time for the process to be thoughtfully and thoroughly carried out.
Dr. McGrath, who will retire effective June 30, 2026, shared that making the decision to step down from the helm to allow a new leader to guide the district was not an easy one.
“It’s been an incredible privilege to serve the students and families of BH-BL for nearly a decade and a half,” Dr. McGrath says. “I was full of excitement and expectation when I accepted the duties of Superintendent in 2012, but little did I know the blessings, challenges, and fulfillment that the years would bring. This community has been my second home, and the achievements we’ve celebrated are a testament to the hard work of our dedicated teachers, staff, students, and supportive parents. I love this district, our kids, and our people. It has been the honor of a lifetime to lead this amazing organization. I will miss this work very much, but the time is right to pass on this great privilege to another.”
At its October 8 meeting, the Board of Education accepted Dr. McGrath’s official retirement announcement and offered heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for his years of dedication and service.
“On behalf of the entire Board, we thank Dr. McGrath for the incredible things he’s done for this district,” says Board President Don Marshall. “His impact will be felt for years to come: from elevated academic achievement among our students and the modernization of our facilities, to the legacy of strong community and professional bonds and effective shared decision-making he helped build. It’s hard to emphasis just how much he has done during his time here. We are looking forward to continuing to work with him during his final year and extend our sincere appreciation to him.”
Measures of Success
As the district’s second-longest-serving superintendent, Dr. McGrath’s 14-year tenure will likely be defined as the most transformative in the district’s history. Notably, he spearheaded the passage of three major districtwide improvement projects. These massive undertakings resulted in state-of-the-art facilities fit for 21st-century learning, which include the high school’s STEAM addition, a new transportation building, modern classrooms districtwide, an upgraded high school auditorium, Centennial Field, as well as specialized learning spaces like the black box theater, a podcast studio, a video production lab, teaching kitchens, modern libraries, and a business center. And more improvements are underway with the most recent voter-approved renovation projects currently being completed. These include major classroom upgrades at the elementary and middle schools, an updated high school gym, a multi-purpose athletic field, and other new athletic fields, to name a few.
“All of these projects weren’t just about buildings,” adds Dr. McGrath. “They were about encouraging students to explore their passions, find their vocations, and prepare them for the rigors of the real world that awaits them.”
Under his leadership, he also developed a robust and secure technological infrastructure while also successfully pioneering and launching a one-to-one laptop program for students. During his administration, the district also achieved, and maintains, one of the highest graduation rates in the region, developed a rigorous math curriculum, introduced a phonics-based approach to reading instruction, increased the number of college-credit bearing courses offered, and put BH-BL on the map as a regional leader in distance learning. All of this was accomplished while facing the challenges and educational disruptions of Common Core, InBloom, the opt-out movement, and even the global pandemic.
In addition to the improved physical and academic opportunities for the district, Dr. McGrath and the administrative team worked diligently on the financial aspects of running the district. They’ve maximized various categories of state aid, including BOCES, transportation, and building and foundation aid. They’ve sought different ways to generate revenue, including offering more than 30 distance learning courses to smaller districts, and securing grant funding, private support, and inter-district partnerships. All of which contributed to helping keep the tax rate increases in all four towns to an average annual rate of less than 1.5% over the past 14 years.
“During my time here, we navigated the cultural challenges of our times and are stronger today as a result,” says Dr. McGrath. “The future is bright for BH-BL. We have incredible staff, talented students, a new generation of leadership, and a vibrant supportive community. The synergy created by the cooperation of these groups is embodied by the shared-decision making culture that we so proudly embrace and value so highly. I never forgot that in 1915, our founders endeavored to create a school system in which parents, teachers, school leaders, and community members worked together to provide a world-class education for their students right here in our hometown. That vision, the Burnt Hills Way, is alive and well in 2025.”
Superintendent Search Process Next Steps
A broad statewide Superintendent Search campaign will begin in November with a final decision made by the BH-BL Board of Education in early spring 2026.
Board President Don Marshall states: “We are committed to conducting a comprehensive, inclusive and transparent search process. We recognize that this search, and the final decision, is the single most important responsibility the Board of Education carries. We also know we are a representative body of the community and we take that responsibility seriously. The Board’s goal is to hire the most qualified person who can take on the immense responsibilities of becoming BH-BL’s seventh Superintendent of Schools.”
Part of the Superintendent Search Process includes forming a Hiring Committee composed of various stakeholder groups (i.e., parents, residents, staff, and students) to participate in the hiring process and make recommendations to the Board. Residents who are interested in being considered for the Hiring Committee will have an opportunity to submit letters of interest to the district. Information about the committee’s responsibilities, meetings dates, and deadlines will be posted on the district’s website and shared via ParentSquare in the coming weeks.