Mr. Rooney comes to us from Gloversville, New York, having served there for twenty years as principal of Kingsborough Elementary School and Assistant Superintendent of Schools for Curriculum and Instruction.  He is a specialist in curriculum coordination at all levels and reading design for research based programming and early intervention to prevent reading failure (national consultant through IDEA Partnership.  In Johnstown for fourteen years he was principal of two elementary schools and assistant principal of the junior high school where he began teaching as a grade seven and eight English instructor. 

Prior to coming upstate, Mr. Rooney served as a middle grades English teacher and assistant principal at Our Lady of Refuge School in the Bronx, where he was born and raised.  He was educated all through Catholic schools, attended Fordham University (BA English) and New York University (MA Educational Administration), as well as 30 credits in administration from SUNY Albany. 

He and his wife Marilyn plan to relocate permanently to the East Greenbush area, join Holy Spirit Parish and become very committed to the children, family, staff, parish and school of Holy Spirit.  He and Marilyn have two adult daughters, Mary and Ann.  Previously, they were members of Sacred Heart/Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Gloversville where Roger served as trustee, parish council member, choir member and long time religious education instructor for Grade 10.  Marilyn has served on the social justice committee of the parish and is a long time member of the Board of Directors of the area Catholic Charities organization.   She now works as staff development coordinator for social services in Fulton County.  Previously, she was a child protective and foster home finder worker for social services.   They both enjoy quiet walks, their children, Mary's Bichon dog, James, reading and the arts in general.