December 20, 2024

Dear Parents and Legal Guardians of Charles Upson Elementary School,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to inform you of an important change in leadership at Charles Upson Elementary School.

At the Board of Education meeting held earlier today, we received and accepted the resignation of Dr. Jocelyn Harrington, Principal of Charles Upson Elementary School, effective immediately. Dr. Harrington has served as principal since September 1, 2023, and we appreciate her leadership and the support she provided to our school community during her time with us. We wish Dr. Harrington all the best in her future endeavors.

As we move forward, I am pleased to share that the Board of Education has appointed Mr. James Robert Spanbauer as Interim Principal of Charles Upson Elementary School. Mr. Spanbauer brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He has served as Principal of LaSalle Preparatory School in the Niagara Falls City School District and has held leadership roles at Niagara Falls High School. Since his retirement in 2020, Mr. Spanbauer has worked as an interim administrator in several districts, most recently serving as Interim Elementary Principal at Niagara Wheatfield.

We are confident that Mr. Spanbauer’s extensive experience and leadership skills will greatly benefit our students and staff as we continue to support the learning and growth at Charles Upson Elementary School.

Mr. Spanbauer will begin working with the staff and school over the holiday break, and we are excited for him to meet our school community in person when students return on January 2, 2025. We encourage you to introduce yourself and welcome him as he steps into this important role.

Thank you for your continued support and patience as we navigate this leadership transition at Charles Upson Elementary. We are committed to ensuring a smooth and positive experience for all of our students, and we look forward to working with you and Mr. Spanbauer as we move forward.

Sincerely,


Dr. Mathis Calvin
Superintendent of Schools
Lockport City School District