At its April 24 meeting, the Bethlehem Central Board of Education appointed Kurt Hassenpflug as the district’s K-12 World Languages and ENL supervisor.
The World Languages department’s mission is to develop confident and independent language learners who can communicate proficiently and possess the cultural competency necessary to be successful in an interdependent world. The World Languages department also includes the district’s English as a New Language (ENL) program.
Hassenpflug has 15 years of experience as a teacher and educational leader in K-12 education. He is currently the curriculum coordinator for the Exceptional Learner’s Division (ELD) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs at WSWHE BOCES, which serves students in Washington, Saratoga, Warren, Hamilton and Essex counties. Before his current role, Hassenpflug was a teacher of ENL and English Language Arts (ELA) at the secondary level.
A National Board Certified teacher in ENL and an English Language Development Specialist, Hassenpflug was also a recipient of New York State Governor’s Empire State Excellence in Teaching Award in 2022. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English Adolescence Education from The College of Saint Rose, a master’s degree in Curriculum Development/Instructional Technology from UAlbany, and two advanced graduate certificates in Educational Leadership (Stony Brook University) and Middle Childhood Extension (Clarkson University).
Hassenpflug says he is excited to join the BC team and help advance the district’s mission.
“I am looking forward to being an advocate for BC students and programs,” said Hassenpflug. “I can’t wait to be a partner helping the Bethlehem community continue to embrace the wonderful gift of learning about diverse languages, cultures, and experiences.
“Bethlehem’s reputation for excellence and as a leader in the region was very appealing to me,” said Hassenpflug. “This role will allow me to continue the advocacy work that has been very important to me in my life and career.”
Hassenplug is a New York State Education Department’s English Language Learner (ELL) Leadership Council member and leads the Capital Region ENL Roundtable.
The new department supervisor is no stranger to the Bethlehem area. Hassenpflug said his teaching career began at St. Thomas the Apostle School in Delmar and that he often performs around town with his band Six Mile Sundown playing bass guitar.
“My first teaching job at St. Thomas made me fall in love with the community, so this feels a bit like coming full circle,” he said.
Hassenpflug resides in Clifton Park with his wife and two young children. He will begin his new role at BC on July 1.