Leesa Crawford-Imoro began her first day on the job last week as the new Capital Region BOCES Adult Health Careers Center principal.
For Crawford-Imoro, it’s a return to the school. She graduated from the school’s Practical Nurse Education program in 1993 before starting a career at Albany Medical Center. That was before the ultimate pursuit of her passion to work in the world of education.
“I could be a poster child for that student that didn’t take the traditional pathway,” she said.
Crawford-Imoro has more than two decades of experience in education, most recently serving as assistant principal of Schoharie High School. She previously worked as a counselor in the Lansingburgh Central School District and as school coordinator for the Albany High School Night school program.
She is currently seeking a doctoral program to earn a doctoral degree in education.
“I wanted to be a principal in a non-traditional school setting. I want to inspire and help students who went the non-traditional route like I did,” Crawford-Imoro said.
“There has been a longitude of education, education, education that led me to this non-traditional principalship,” she added.
Located at the Career & Technical Education Center – Albany Campus, the Health Careers Center provides an opportunity to more than 200 adult learners each year to enter the healthcare industry. The Health Careers Center provides classes for students pursuing certifications in licensed practical nursing (LPN), sterile processing or personal care aide/home health aide/nurse assistant.
In June, the Adult Practical Nursing program, preparing students to work as an LPNs, celebrated its largest graduating class ever with more than 130 graduates.
Crawford-Imoro said she is looking forward to the start of the school year in September.
“I am actually looking forward to meeting many of the students and learning their culture and climate,” she said.
Crawford-Imoro succeeds Paula Negri who was promoted to the new position of Director of Health Careers and Services.