M. Catherine Hollinshead Named to College Council

Hollinshead will complete the term appointment of William E. Brooks, formerly of Plattsburgh, who resigned his position last year.  She will serve on the College Council through June 30, 2010.

Hollinshead is an elementary school teacher in the Chateaugay Central School District where she has taught fourth, fifth and six graders. As she begins her 34th year as a teacher, Hollinshead said she was thrilled with her appointment to the council.

"It is an honor and a privilege to become a member of such a hard-working devoted team," said Hollinshead. "SUNY Plattsburgh has an excellent reputation which I hope to see continue and thrive during my tenure. I am proud to be a part of such an outstanding institution."

Acting Council Chairperson Arnold Amell, a 1953 graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh, said he was very pleased with Hollinshead's appointment to the College Council at Plattsburgh.

"SUNY Plattsburgh has educated and prepared many of the fine teachers currently working in the local school districts in Northern New York," said Amell. "I believe Cathy's first-hand knowledge and experience will provide the council specific insight into what is actually happening in the classroom and what SUNY Plattsburgh can do to improve teachers' skills."

Amell added, "Cathy's involvement in many community organizations, like so many of her council peers, provides an experiential background from which she can draw to provide additional insight into her work as a member of the College Council."

Hollinshead holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Daemen College and New York State Permanent Teacher Certification.

Prior to joining Chateaugay Central School in 1970, she taught in the Lockport Central School District for one year.  Hollinshead has participated in various workshops and courses offered through the Adirondack Teacher Center, BOCES, SUNY Plattsburgh and SUNY Potsdam. She is the elementary computer coordinator for the Chateaugay Central School District and serves on the Computer Curriculum Development Committee for BOCES.

A member of the school board at Holy Family School in Malone, Hollinshead is also involved with the Franklin County Historical Society, Chateaugay Revitalization Committee, Malone College Club and Malone Golf Club.

She has previously served on the Alice Hyde Hospital Foundation Board (Malone, N.Y.) and the Community Advisory Board for the Chateaugay Correctional Facility (NYS DOCS).

Hollinshead is married to John Hollinshead, a 1970 alumnus of SUNY Plattsburgh. John was a member of the varsity men's basketball team at SUNY Plattsburgh for four years and later served as an assistant basketball coach at Plattsburgh under Head Coach Norm Law. He also teaches at Chateaugay Central School.

Hollinshead's daughter, Erin, teaches fourth grade in Malone Central School, and her son, Andrew, is a project manager for General Electric Power Systems in Houston, Texas.

There remains one vacancy on the College Council with the resignation of Robert Garrow, who stepped down earlier this year after serving as council chair for nearly 18 years.

-- 30 --