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Sleepy Hollow Principal Excited To Join Common Core Task Force

SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. -- Sleepy Hollow High School principal Carol Conklin-Spillane has a big job ahead of her.

Sleepy Hollow High School principal Carol Conklin-Spillane was named to the state Common Core Task Force.

Sleepy Hollow High School principal Carol Conklin-Spillane was named to the state Common Core Task Force.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Tarrytown School District

Conklin-Spillane was one of 15 people named to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Common Core Task Force. The panel is meeting in New York City for the first time next week.

In unveiling the task force, Cuomo called for a reboot of the state's educational system. Last year, some parents opted out of having their children take Common Core tests.

Conklin-Spillane said she will know more about the panel after the first meeting. She said the problem with Common Core has been the implementation.

"The one size fits all idea doesn't work," Conklin-Spillane said. "They have misused testing and connected it to the evaluation of teachers. That's the perspective I bring to the table."

The principal said she supports the general mission of Common Core: higher standards, big ideas and problem solving. 

"I've been a high school principal for 23 years," Conklin-Spillane said. "Sleepy Hollow has been recognized for student achievement. I've interacted with different members of the governor's staff. I got a phone call to join the panel, that's how it got started."

Conklin-Spillane said she wants to use Sleepy Hollow High School as a model to show American education is working.

"We can make it work," Conklin-Spillane said. "It can be done anywhere. I'm happy to have the opportunity to make things better in our state. We have an obligation to fix this. I want to turn things around for the students in New York. They deserve it."

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