Across our organization, our school leadership team works to foster supportive, enriching learning environments for our students, and helps expand the professional learning and growth of our teaching and support team.
Career & Technical Education
Albany Campus
Joseph Slichko
Principal
joseph.slichko@neric.org
Valerie Smith
Assistant Principal
valerie.smith@neric.org
Alexandrea Campbell
Assistant Principal
alexandrea.campbell@neric.org
Adult Education
Suzanne Rayome
Interim Adult Education Program Manager
suzanne.rayome@neric.org
Louise Bigando, MSN, RN, Ed., SDL
Director of Health Careers & Services
louise.bigando@neric.org
Cyrus Ferri, BSN, RN
Adult Nursing Education Supervisor
cyrus.ferri@neric.org
Schoharie Campus
Matthew Ward
Principal
matthew.ward@neric.org
Matthew Ward joined our Career and Technical School team in 2021. Prior to this, Matt served as Greenville High School principal and was also an assistant high school principal in both Guilderland and the Cairo-Durham school districts. The College of Saint Rose graduate got his start in education as a social studies teacher at Ichabod Crane, where he also held several coaching positions.
Special Education
Airline Drive Academy
Barb Lounello
Principal
barb.lounello@neric.org
Barb Lounello has been a principal with our Special Education programs since 2009 and was a School Social Worker also with our Special Education programs from 2004-2009. Prior to working at BOCES, Barb worked at Albany County Children’s Mental Health Clinic and Parsons, and prior to becoming a Social Worker, Barb was an elementary education teacher with Albany City School District.
Amanda McNeal
Assistant Principal
amanda.mcneal@neric.org
Maywood Academy
Gabriele Barbarto
Principal
gabriele.barbato@neric.org
Gabriele Barbarto joined the Maywood Academy in 2021. Previously, he served as Pre-K through Grade 6 principal and, prior to that, an instructional supervisor at Eagle Point Elementary School in Albany. Additionally, Gabriele served as an assistant principal at Schenectady High School and site principal for the BOCES Regional Summer School program. A graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Gabriele got his start in education in the Schenectady City School District, where he taught for a decade before moving into administration.
Cara Bronner
Assistant Principal
cara.bronner@neric.org
Cara has been an instructional coach with the CRB Special Education division since 2022 and assumed her new role as assistant principal on January 20, 2026. She succeeded Kristen Roys who is now the deputy director of the division. With more than 16 years of experience in education, Cara has taught across diverse settings—from urban to suburban to rural school districts in both New York and Hawaii. As an instructional coach with CRB, she has built relationships, mentored teachers and helped to improve student outcomes. She has a B.A. of Arts in History from SUNY Albany and a Master of Education with a dual certification in Elementary Special Education from the The College of St. Rose.
District-Based Elementary, Middle School and High School Locations
John Clausson
Principal
john.clausson@neric.org
Cooperative Virtual Learning Academy
Carrie Sunkes
Executive Principal
carrie.sunkes@neric.org
Carrie Sunkes has spent the past 20 years in the field of education, as both a teacher and administrator in various area school districts. Carrie began her career as a teacher of accelerated math and Academic Intervention Services in math in the North Colonie School District, and was a sixth grade teacher, Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Enrichment and Intermediate Elementary Summer School principal at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District. Most recently, Carrie served BH-BL’s Virtual Elementary Principal. In this new role, Carrie helped create a virtual learning environment that reinforced academic skills while introducing technical platforms that allowed student and teachers to stay connected and learning throughout a nationwide pandemic.