SPENCER — The Spencer-Van Etten Central School District Board of Education has announced a leadership transition that will take place in the coming months.
Superintendent Barbara J. Case will retire effective Dec. 31, 2025, after three years of service to the district. During her tenure, she provided steady leadership, strengthened community partnerships, and remained committed to advancing opportunities for all learners.
The Board of Education has appointed Patrick Patterson, current principal of Spencer-Van Etten Middle School, to serve as the next superintendent of schools beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Patterson brings a record of leadership, an understanding of the district’s values and goals, and a strong vision for the future of education in the Spencer-Van Etten community.
To support a smooth transition, the district has developed a plan that includes collaboration between Case and Patterson over the next several months. This process will include joint work in planning, budgeting, staffing, and district initiatives.
The district will immediately begin the search for the next principal of Spencer-Van Etten Middle School. The goal is to appoint a new leader with sufficient time to work alongside Patterson and the middle school team for a strong conclusion to the 2025–26 school year.
In addition to the leadership transition, the district is actively engaged in several strategic initiatives:
A revamp of the Blueprint for Excellence Strategic Plan will begin this summer, with a focus on programs and priorities that matter most to students, employees, families and community members.
Community feedback is being gathered to guide the district’s long-range capital improvement and facilities planning, ensuring school buildings continue to support high-quality teaching and learning.
Educators are devoting time and expertise this summer to improvements in curriculum, instruction and assessment to better serve all students in the next school year and beyond.
The district acknowledges this transition as a time of both reflection and forward momentum, as it celebrates Case’s contributions and prepares for the next chapter under Patterson’s leadership.
For more information, please contact the Spencer-Van Etten Central School District Office at 607-589-7100.