Our executive team meets regularly to discuss organization-wide issues, set programmatic and operational direction, and ensure the high quality of services and programs. They work together to provide forward-thinking leadership for our organization to best serve students, schools and educators from across our region and beyond.
Executive Biographies
District Superintendent
Anita Murphy joined Capital Region BOCES in 2017.
In her role, Murphy focuses on state-level responsibilities, such as assisting the education commissioner with implementing statewide initiatives, overseeing the administration of state grants, and working with the regional information center on data warehousing, testing and regional planning.
Murphy came to BOCES from the Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central School District where she served as superintendent for three years.
Prior to that, Murphy served as deputy superintendent in both the Rochester City and Syracuse City Schools and the director of instruction in the Albany City Schools. She has also worked for the New York State Education Department as the associate commissioner.
Murphy started her career in the Binghamton City School District where she was a teacher, teacher on special assignment and finally the director of instructional data.
Murphy serves on many expert panels and has received numerous professional awards and recognition for her contributions to the field of education. Among these, Murphy was recently awarded the National School Public Relations Association’s (NSPRA) 2022 Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award for outstanding leadership.
Senior Executive Officer
Joseph P. Dragone, Ph.D. joined Capital Region BOCES in 2017.
In his role, Dragone leads efforts regarding program development, building organizational capacity across divisions and cross-sector partnerships in addition to day-to-day oversight of BOCES’ programs and services.
Dragone has extensive experience in both urban and suburban school district leadership. He came to BOCES from the Ballston Spa Central School District, where he served as superintendent for nine years. Prior to his time in Ballston Spa, Dragone served as the Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education for the Albany City Schools and as Middle School Principal in the Cohoes City School District.
Dragone has served on many expert panels regarding workforce development, college readiness, cross-sector partnerships and STEM, including the Board of Trustees of The College Board. He currently serves as the Capital Region Vice President for the New York Association for Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP) and on the Advisory Boards of New York Tech Valley FIRST Robotics, the Department of Education at Clarkson University, The University at Albany School of Education Leadership Council, The Russell Sage College Educational Leadership Doctoral Advisory Committee, the NYSERDA Offshore Wind Jobs & Supply Chain Technical Working Group and the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor STEM Initiative.
Dragone is a former Workcreek Member on Workforce Development and Education for the Obama Administration’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) 2.0 Initiative. In 2018, Dragone represented New York state at the White House State-Federal STEM Summit under the Trump Administration. As a gubernatorial appointee to the Capital Region Economic Development Council, he serves on the Executive Committee and co-chairs the Workforce Development Workgroup.
Dragone received the 2014 American Graduate Champion Award from WMHT and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the 2017 National Community Action Award from the Saratoga Economic Opportunity Council, the 2020 Champion Award from the Association for Career & Technical Education and the 2020 Catalyst Award from the SEAT Center. He is recognized on the 2020 and 2021 City & State Education Power 100 List.
Dragone hold a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Education degrees from The College of St. Rose, a Master of Science, Certificate of Advanced Study, and Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration and Policy Studies from the University at Albany, State University of New York.
Deputy District Superintendent
Lauren J. Gemmill joined Capital Region BOCES in 2019.
In her role, Gemmill leads the organization’s instructional and operational departments. This includes the oversight and planning for BOCES special education and career and technical education programs, as well as the Educational Support Services division. She also works closely with the District Superintendent in supporting the 23 component school districts and working with their superintendents on a variety of issues. Gemmill leads the region’s assistant superintendents’ group and has facilitated several superintendent searches in the region.
Gemmill came to BOCES from the Niskayuna Central School District, where she served as assistant superintendent for instruction after serving six years as a principal.
Among her many achievements in Niskayuna, was the establishment of a program review process to ensure that academic programs were continually updated and modernized to better support students. This was a collaborative process with instructional leaders and teachers. Gemmill also oversaw a multi-year curriculum design initiative involving teams of teachers at all levels, and coordinated professional learning efforts focused on equity, diversity, and trauma-informed practices.
Prior to her work in Niskayuna, Gemmill was the K-5 academic administrator for ELA and social studies in the Shenendehowa Central School District.
Gemmill currently serves as a state board member and conference chair for the New York State Association for Women in Administration. She actively supports women leaders through coaching, mentoring, and sponsorship.
Gemmill holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s degree in reading, and a certificate of advanced studies in educational administration and policy studies from the University at Albany.