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A Strong Foundation
and History
The CASDA offices, originally in Draper Hall on the University
at Albany’s downtown campus, have moved over the years to Milne to
Richardson to the uptown campus back to Draper, Husted Hall on
the downtown campus, and now are located on the East Campus. Despite the moves, however, CASDA has retained its
mission of providing in-service programs for schools in the 11-county
region and beyond and the field-service contacts for the University’s
School of Education, with which CASDA is now affiliated. The groundwork
for the Association’s first 50 years was well laid!
Although many people were involved in this venture, the names of Hamilton
Bookhout, Joe Leese, Howard Goff, Bob Frederick, Bill Firman, Alan Hicks
and Vivian Peckham appear frequently in the records of those early meetings.
Evan Collins, who became president of the growing New York State College
for Teachers during the early days of CASDA, also is prominently mentioned
in the history of the fledgling organization. At a meeting on January
25, 1950, for example, President Collins outlined the college’s plans
and policies toward CASDA. (He promised that the college would provide
office space, telephone service and other equipment for CASDA at Milne
High School, along with halftime secretarial service. “Active participation
in and real contribution to CASDA is a real responsibility of the total college
staff and the development of closer schools-college ties is sought,”
he told the Executive Committee.)
At the time, CASDA listed a membership of 18 school districts, all of
whom paid dues to support the organization, and an annual budget of
$2,000. Today, affiliation fees, along with some grant money, support
CASDA and pay for the salary of the executive director, the assistant
director, and other expenses. The University continues to provide space,
the salary of the associate director, and half salary for the office
manager.
Since its inception CASDA has been governed by a board representing
the administrators of the affiliated schools. The first executive director
was Joe Leese, who played a key role in getting CASDA underway. He served
until 1952, when he returned to fulltime teaching in the School of Education.
Don Donley led CASDA for 14 years beginning in 1953, leaving to become
dean of the School of Education at Boston College. Other executive directors
included Bernard Bryan, Al Farnsworth and Greg Benson.
Under their leadership, CASDA has developed into one of the nation’s
premier study councils during its first 50 years. Now headed by Jeff
McLellan as its executive director, CASDA is planning a variety of programs
and special events over the next year which will celebrate its unique
niché of service to education.
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CASDA:
56 Years of Partnership in Education
