News
October 21, 2015Susan Odell Taylor School Celebrates Opening of New Upper School on Russell Sage Campus
The Susan Odell Taylor School opened a new Upper School on the Russell Sage College campus and today a celebration marked this milestone.
Since its inception in 1998, the Troy independent school has served students in preschool through sixth grade at their 116 Pinewoods Avenue location. The need for more space and a desire to add 7th and 8th grade led the Board of Trustees to seek an expansion. A special committee was examining several possibilities when a partnership with Russell Sage College in downtown Troy was suggested. Dr. Susan Scrimshaw, president of The Sage Colleges, charged Deirdre Zarrillo, Vice President for Administration and Planning, with working with the Susan Odell Taylor School to develop a unique educational model – the positioning of a middle school on a college campus. “The potential for a win-win partnership between the Susan Odell Taylor School and Russell Sage College was apparent on a number of levels, “ said Mike Fanning, president of the Susan Odell Taylor Board of Trustees. “We are appreciative of Russell Sage’s role in helping us realize our strategic vision.”
A celebratory opening for the Upper School was held in the Bush Memorial on the Russell Sage campus. Dr. Donna Heald, associate provost of The Sage Colleges, spoke at the ceremony. “We enthusiastically welcome the Susan Odell Taylor students, faculty, and staff to the Russell Sage College campus,” said Dr. Donna Heald. “Their presence will enrich our campus community and further enhance the experiential learning opportunities for Sage students. We look forward to many collaborative endeavors that will strengthen the education that both institutions provide to our students.”
The Susan Odell Taylor Upper School’s fifth through eighth graders are located in the Lorraine Walker Building. Renovations to transform the three-story building, which had been vacant, into a middle school were completed over the summer. Upper School students have access to additional spaces such as a gym, a theater, and a soccer field on Russell Sage’s picturesque campus – and the Troy Public Library is a short walk away. “The Russell Sage location enabled us to gain all we hoped for in a new space, while ensuring that our energy, focus, and resources remain dedicated to our students and our innovative educational program,” stated Kelly Magoolaghan, Head of School. “We look forward to interacting with the Russell Sage community in ways that will benefit students from both schools.”
The Susan Odell Taylor School is currently enrolling preschool through eighth grade students for the 2016 – 2017 school year. For more information or to schedule a visit contact Suzanne Clarkson, 518.274.4994, sclarkson@taylorschool.org.
