The Cheektowaga Central School District named Karin Cyganovich, a science teacher with the district since 1996, to the position of high school principal. Her appointment was approved by the Cheektowaga Board of Education on June 15.  She will fill the post left vacant by Scott Zipp who was named assistant superintendent. Both Cyganovich and Zipp assume their new positions on July 1, 2021.

Cyganovich has devoted her career at CCHS teaching all levels of physics and forensics. Outside the classroom, she has dedicated her time as a science club advisor, athletic coach and senior class advisor for numerous years. For the district, she has served as a mentor, mentor coordinator, K-12 instructional coach and K-12 science curriculum leader. For the past four years, she has also been lead learner for the high school, coordinating weekly professional learning for teachers and leaders based on need and research. Additionally, she has been the Tier II PBIS high school coach and SWIS administrator, facilitating the collection and analysis of academic and behavioral data to improve instruction. 

Since starting her teaching career, she has been an active volunteer and advocate for science education. She has been a screener of NYS science learning standards, a reviewer of curriculum for BOCES, a regional Olympiad supervisor, a WNY Science Congress judge, a Superkey leader for NSTA’s Science Matters program, the state coordinator for the NYS science honor society program, a NYS science education consortium leader and a professional learning facilitator for STANYS, the Buffalo State Master Teachers program and the University at Buffalo Science Teachers program. In the Science Teacher’s Association of NYS, Karin has been a subject area representative, a director at large for physics and is currently serving as association secretary.

In 2017, she was awarded the Excellence in Science Teaching award for high school teachers from STANYS, in 2020 the Champion of Teacher Development award from STANYS and in 2021 the Outstanding Graduate Student of the education department from Niagara University. She holds certificates in both teaching and administration.