The North Colonie Central School District and Shaker High School are mourning the loss of longtime teacher and coach Ed Springstead. Coach Springstead passed away on Friday, April 10, at the age of 93.
A United States Army veteran, Coach Springstead spent more than 50 years as a physical education teacher and cross country and track coach at Shaker. In his decades as a coach, his cross country teams won two state championships, one at Colonie High in 1962 and another here at Shaker in 2010. His 2010 state championship team went on to qualify for Nike Cross Nationals and finished 13th in the country.
Mr. Springstead’s tenure as a coach lasted long beyond his retirement as a teacher in 1989. A member of the Shaker High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Greater Capital Region Cross Country and Track and Field Hall of Fame, Coach Springstead impacted the lives of thousands of student-athletes across the Capital District. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and former athletes and colleagues. Our thoughts are with all of those who knew and loved Coach Springstead during this difficult time.
A United States Army veteran, Coach Springstead spent more than 50 years as a physical education teacher and cross country and track coach at Shaker. In his decades as a coach, his cross country teams won two state championships, one at Colonie High in 1962 and another here at Shaker in 2010. His 2010 state championship team went on to qualify for Nike Cross Nationals and finished 13th in the country.
Mr. Springstead’s tenure as a coach lasted long beyond his retirement as a teacher in 1989. A member of the Shaker High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Greater Capital Region Cross Country and Track and Field Hall of Fame, Coach Springstead impacted the lives of thousands of student-athletes across the Capital District. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and former athletes and colleagues. Our thoughts are with all of those who knew and loved Coach Springstead during this difficult time.
In recognition of Cerebral Palsy (CP) Awareness Day, neuroscientist Dr. Kainat Akhtar, PhD visited Southgate to share information about CP with kindergarten students. Dr. Akhtar was joined by her younger sister Komal, who has CP and is a kindergartener at Southgate. Komal was excited to join in and share information with her friends! During the presentation, students learned to recognize if things are contagious or not, that everyone has the same emotions, and that all bodies and brains work differently. Thank you to Dr. Akhtar and Komal for sharing this important information with us!
Receiving SNAP secures kids free school meals. Together SNAP and school meals provide kids the food they need to learn. Learn more about how SNAP grocery benefits can support your child’s education: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/snap/
Happy Assistant Principals Week to our Shaker Shaker Middle and High School hall principals and deans! We appreciate everything you do for our students everyday! It may be spring break but be sure to show your appreciation when we come back next week! #assistantprincipalweek
The Bison is wishing everyone a great Spring Break! Don’t forget we are one month away from the Bison getting a name, and celebrating the 75th anniversary together!
You're Invited to Shaker Unified National Banner School Celebration on Friday, April 17 at 6 p.m. in the H-Gym at SHS. This celebration is to recognize our recent recognition as a National Unified Banner School. We would love to have the North Colonie community there to celebrate this milestone!
Families and students gathered at the Empire State Plaza K-8 Abstract Expressionism Art Show reception on Thursday, March 12 to celebrate the creativity of young artists from across the region. Students proudly shared their work while exploring inspiring pieces from the Rockefeller collection on the concourse. Local children’s book author and illustrator Liz Zunon delivered an engaging keynote, encouraging students to keep creating and expressing themselves through art. Congratulations to all the students who shared their work!
Have you seen the latest district newsletter? Featuring staff spotlights, Capital Project updates, district news, and more, find the digital version here: https://www.northcolonie.org/o/nccs/page/district-newsletters.
Stay tuned for more information about the Bison Birthday Bash on May 9, 2026!
Stay tuned for more information about the Bison Birthday Bash on May 9, 2026!
From pencils and paper in 2006 to a classroom full of curious minds in 2025, learning has always been at the heart of our schools. We’re proud to look back at the students who filled our classrooms years ago and just as proud of the learners continuing that tradition today!
Have photos from the last 75 years? Send them to us at communications@nccsk12.org. We’d love to see them! #NC75 #ThrowbackThursday
Pinkies up! On Wednesday, March 11, and Thursday, March 12, Southgate kindergarteners donned their finest attire for a delightful spot of tea. After completing their Kings and Queens unit, students celebrated with a royal tea party. Cupcakes and apple juice (their version of “tea”) were served as students sipped from fancy cups at tables covered with a special tablecloth they colored together as a class. When the “tea” ran out, teachers returned with the teapot to pour more for their royal guests. It was truly a very regal day indeed!
Nominations for the Shaker High School Alumni Hall of Fame 2026 Induction are now open! Do you know a Shaker alum making a difference or doing outstanding work in their career field? Nominate that person! All nominations are due by Wednesday, April 15. You can find a link to the nomination form in our bio. #alumnihalloffame
Have you supported your school today? Help your school knock out the competition this March! When you support your school, you’re also helping North Colonie students and families in need. Donate today and share your school spirit, submit your videos and photos through the link in our bio!
Read Across America! More than 200 Shaker High School students went around the district to visit students in all six of our elementary schools for National Read Across America Day on Monday, March 2. To celebrate the day, high school students from the SHS Writing Center, Literature in Education classes and National English Honor Society did read alouds and facilitated other activities with more than 1,500 elementary students. Stations included bookmark creation, poster contribution, story in motion and question and answer panels. Thank you to our SHS and elementary libraries for collaborating to ensure that Read Across America Day was a success here in North Colonie!
For the fourth straight year, Ms. Vanessa Fulmore's fourth graders at Southgate presented Our History, Our Heroes: Black History Living Wax Museum. As part of their studies during Black History Month in February, each student in Ms. Fulmore’s class selected an influential Black figure in history for a research project. Each student created an informational report, as well as a visual presentation, and the project culminated with the living wax museum.
On Thursday, February 26, students dressed up and transformed into their influential individual, bringing that person's story to life with a biographical reading when prompted with the touch of a button. Some students read off an index card, while others chose to memorize their subject's story. Students had posterboards with photos and information to go along with their live presentation and written report. For the full story, go to news stories.
This week we honor Septima Poinsette Clark, an educator and civil rights leader who used education as a powerful tool for change. Through the Citizenship Schools she developed, Clark helped African Americans gain literacy skills needed to register to vote and participate fully in democracy. Her work connected education to empowerment and earned her recognition as the Grandmother of the Civil Rights Movement.
Tuesday, Feb. 24, North Colonie hosted an event titled “Paving Your Path in Education.” This event was designed for individuals interested in exploring a career in education. The evening consisted of networking, a panel discussion with district leaders, and one-on-one screening sessions. It was an informative experience for both current and future educators.
As we head into March, this event marks the first of many recruitment efforts. Jewelie Koutelis, our Recruitment and Retention Specialist, will be traveling from Plattsburgh to Niagara Falls in search of top teaching talent across New York State, along with some of our administrators. Part of their journey will consist of attending two Teacher Recruitment Days (TRD), during which they will meet with college students from a total of 18 colleges in NYS.
If you were unable to attend, but are interested in joining the North Colonie team, please visit northcolonie.org/recruitment to learn more.
February is American Heart Month! Join us on Wednesday, February 25 and go red to raise awareness! North Colonie students, staff, and community, wear red and show your support for heart health! ❤️
North Colonie Central School District is proud to celebrate Public Schools Week 2026. This week we honor the educators, staff, students, and families who are the very foundation of our schools. We recognize the dedication, passion, and collaboration that support our students every day, from exceptional teaching and strong leadership to family engagement and community partnerships. Join us in celebrating the people, practices, and pride that make public schools strong.
North Colonie CSD will operate on a two-hour delay today, Feb. 23. There will be no AM BOCES.
This week we recognize W. E. B. Du Bois, a sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist whose scholarship and leadership helped shape the fight for equality. As a co-founder of the Niagara Movement and the NAACP, and the first African American to earn a PhD from Harvard University, Du Bois championed full political, economic, and social rights for Black Americans. His work as editor of The Crisis and his lasting influence on civil rights thought continue to resonate today.
