Beloved Principal in Upstate New York Announces Retirement

Upstate NY Principal Retiring After 22 Years

An Upstate New York principal who has dedicated over 22 years of her life to the Burt Hills-Ballston Lake community announced her retirement this week.  In a heartfelt post announcing her retirement, school officials also stated that they are searching for her replacement.

On Thursday morning, the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District announced that Pashley Elementary School Principal Jill Bonacio has announced her retirement after 22.5 years of dedicated service to the district.

According to the heartfelt press release, Bonacio began her 32-year career in education as a school counselor in local districts and as House Principal for Saratoga Middle School.

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In 2003, according to a press release, Bonacio began her Spartan career as the Dean of Students at O’Rourke Middle School, where she spent two years before becoming the Principal of Pashley Elementary School.

"She Will Be Greatly Missed"

Whenever a beloved community member decides to move to a new chapter in their life, it's usually with a heavy heart, and this is no exception in the case of Bonacio.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my time at Pashley has been the opportunity to work alongside our wonderful families,” she shared. “We’ve navigated challenges together, celebrated milestones together, and supported each other through every step of the journey," she said in the press release. 

Bonacio added, "I often tell people that I hit the lottery when I was granted a position at BH-BL. I have been blessed to work alongside incredible colleagues, to nurture the minds of bright young students, and to be part of a community that truly cares.”

“All four of my kids went through Pashley, and my family has great memories from their time there because Jill always, without a doubt, puts kids first,” said Board Member David Mitchell. “Everything she does is child-centered, and she will be greatly missed.”

Search Is On to Find a Replacement by Summer

School administrators say they will soon begin the process for a principal search by assembling a hiring committee that represents various constituent groups, allowing all parties to provide input and participate in the search. The district said it hopes to find a qualified candidate who will begin this summer.