Katherine Riley announced as interim principal at CVU

Champlain Valley Union High School curriculum director Katherine Riley will take over as the school’s interim principal for the 2024-25 school year. She will into the new job on July 1.

Riley joined CVU in 1998 as a social studies teacher. Besides working as curriculum director, she has also been Snelling house director.

“As an administrator, she has played an important role in the school’s transition to a proficiency-based system, the design of the school’s action plan and the development of current graduation requirements,” a release from the Champlain Valley School District said.

Riley received a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University and a master’s in education from Plattsburgh State University.

Besides teaching in New York state before coming to Vermont, she has international education experience, teaching in Bhutan and Peru.

At Champlain Valley Union, Riley has led numerous international student trips and advised both Amnesty International and the Student Council for over 20 years.

“Riley highlighted her desire to maintain the collaborative approach that has been a cornerstone for the CVU leadership team and that continuity is a priority for her,” said Sarah Crum, the school district’s director of learning and innovation who was on the interview committee. “Riley’s steady leadership will ensure that CVU continues to build on the incredible strengths of the administrators, faculty and staff while it fosters innovative solutions to challenges in education.”

According to the district’s release, upon accepting the job, Riley said, “I look forward to working closely with the students, faculty, staff and community to grow the culture of belonging and high academic standards which have been the hallmark of the high school since long before I began my teaching career at CVU.”