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Alumni Spotlight: Rebecca Belkota '98 Named NYS Middle School Principal of the Year
Rebecca Belkota '98 (Elementary Education), principal at Perry Jr/Sr High School since 2014, has been selected as the 2025 New York State Middle School Principal of the Year by SAANYS and NASSP.
Belkota has prioritized mental health support and created a collaborative culture after successfully merging junior and senior high schools. Under her leadership, the school implemented weekly support team meetings to address attendance, behavioral, and mental health barriers to student success.
Colleagues praise her commitment to social-emotional learning, conflict resolution, and developing future educational leaders. Superintendent Daryl McLaughlin called her "the example to which all secondary principals should aspire."
As NYS Middle School Principal of the Year, Belkota is now a candidate for the National Middle School Principal of the Year award. She will be recognized alongside other 2025 award winners at SAANYS' annual celebration on May 2 in Albany.
