Cogan ’00 named director of special education at Shelburne school

(The following alumna news item is adapted from a press release by the Champlain Valley School District)

Emily Cogan ’00 M’10

Anybody doubting the power of Saint Michael’s credentials in the job market should consider the case of Emily Cogan ’00 M’10, recently named director of special education for the Shelburne (VT) Community School. She will begin her leadership duties on July 1, 2022.

After completing her Saint Michael’s philosophy undergraduate degree in 2000, Cogan went on to earn a master’s from St. Mike’s in special education, and she now is near completion of a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership from the College.

Shelburne Community School co-principal Alison Celmer said she was “thrilled to welcome Emily Cogan to the SCS leadership team and our school family. She brings a warmth and friendliness that will help students and families connect with her, a compassionate and supportive approach to coaching faculty and staff, and uses data to inform decisions and problem-solving.”

“She’ll be present, approachable, and collaborative — modeling best practices and living her values,” Celmer said in the Champlain Valley School District (CVSD) press release about Cogan’s appointment. “We are fortunate to have her perspective and expertise at SCS and CVSD.”

Cogan will be joining the Shelburne Community School from the Burlington School District where she is a special education coordinator. Previously she was a special educator at BFA Fairfax in the Franklin West Supervisory Union for many years. Since 2014, she was a Chinese Cultural Exchange Program teacher and student service coordinator with BFA’s partnership with Spiral International, before the program was canceled due to COVID-19. She also was an accessibility coach and special educator in other schools in northern Vermont.

CVSD’s Director of Student Support Services, Meagan Roy, said Cogan’s “experience as a special educator, her creativity and commitment to making education more accessible to her students, and her leadership experience as a special education coordinator made her the unanimous choice for the committee.”

Said Cogan about her new position,  “I am so excited to join the Shelburne and CVSD community. I am passionate about supporting Vermont’s educators, students, and families. I know we have a lot of great work to continue and I look forward to joining this fabulous team,” according to the District press release.