Catskill Middle School welcomes Kayla Gessner as its new assistant principal. Ms. Gessner is here to support students, staff and families by addressing concerns, managing attendance, implementing academic interventions, and fostering family engagement, among other duties.

Gessner is no stranger to the Catskill Central School District; she has worked here as a special education teacher at Catskill Elementary School beginning in 2019 and was the District’s Committee on Special Education chairperson for the past year and a half. She also was a student here K-12 and graduated from Catskill High School in 2010.

“I’m very excited for this opportunity because Catskill is my home and Catskill’s students and staff are my ‘why,’” Gessner said. “I went to school here and know the potential Catskill has.”  

Along with a Catskill diploma, Gessner holds a certificate of advanced study in school building and school district leadership from SUNY Plattsburgh, a master’s degree in special education from UAlbany, and a bachelor’s in elementary education from SUNY Cortland. 

Prior to teaching in Catskill, she worked as a teaching assistant and later as a special education teacher for the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District.

“My goal is to get into classrooms and make sure every student and teacher is supported and challenged. This year is about consistency, support, and finding joy in learning,” Gessner added.

In her spare time, Gessner runs her own woodworking business, coaches youth soccer, serves with the Palenville Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter and as vice president of the Ladies Auxiliary, skis and snowboards, plays soccer, and loves to golf. 

The Board of Education appointed Gessner on August 27, 2025. Please join us in welcoming her to her new role at Catskill CSD!