About the Superintendent
Superintendent’s Message
Dr. Kevin McGowan has been the Superintendent of the Brighton Central School District since 2009. He began his career as an elementary teacher in the Starpoint Central School District before becoming a high school assistant principal at Iroquois High School and then an elementary principal at Wales Primary School. Prior to Brighton, Kevin was the Superintendent of the Warsaw Central School District in Wyoming County. He has had the great gift and honor of working in rural and suburban settings and facilitating the development of curricular and financial solutions where capacity was at all ends of the spectrum.
Kevin is a graduate of Canisius College with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Supervision. Kevin completed his doctoral work in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University at Buffalo. His dissertation was selected for presentation at the graduate research conference at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Kevin has previously served as the President of the Monroe County Council of School Superintendents. He is the President of the New York State Council of School Superintendents. Kevin is Past President of the Leadership for Educational Achievement Foundation (LEAF). He is a member of the steering committee for the Levine Center, an anti-bias initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester, and the Jewish Life Advisory Board for the Farash Institute. He is a board member of Western New York Educational Service Council, Brighton Education Fund, Brighton Alumni Association and Brighton Chamber of Commerce. Kevin has been a member of several national, state and local committees including the College Board’s Superintendent Advisory Board, NYSCOSS legislative committee and the Commissioners Advisory Council. He also serves on the United Way Campaign Cabinet and the Jewish Family Services Basic Needs Advisory Board. Kevin also has the pleasure of being an adjunct professor in the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester where he teaches a course titled, “The Politics of Education.” Kevin is an adjunct instructor for NYSSBA and provides both leadership and board superintendent relationship workshops.
Most importantly, Kevin proudly holds the title of husband and dad in his Brighton household. Among his three children are two sons, both in high school, who constantly remind him of the need for more snow days, additional free periods and better school food. Kevin also has a daughter in second grade who seems to enjoy her Dad being in her classroom slightly more than her brothers. His children and exceptionally supportive wife, an educator herself, help him keep perspective and focus our most important priorities; the needs of each and every child and their families.
Contact Dr. McGowan at 242-5200 Ext. 5502 or by email.
Dear Members of the BCSD Family,
As we reach the midpoint of the school year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful work happening across our schools.
First and foremost, our students are doing exceptionally well.
Despite what has been, at times, some tricky weather — and what can feel like the darker days of winter — our buildings are anything but dim. Each day, our students brighten our hallways and classrooms with their energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and engagement. Their curiosity is contagious. Their kindness toward one another is evident. Their commitment to learning continues to inspire all of us who have the privilege of working alongside them.
Every now and then, I hear someone use the phrase, “kids these days…” — usually with a tone of concern. I’m always more than happy to respond, “You bet, let me tell you about how amazing they are.” Because the truth is, our students give us reason for optimism every single day. They are thoughtful, engaged, service-minded, and deeply committed to making a positive difference in their school and in the world around them. We could not be more proud of them.
While the daily work of teaching and learning continues at a strong pace, this time of year also marks the beginning of another important season in school district leadership — budget development. Our team is hard at work building the proposed budget for the coming school year. This process is always complex, and this year is no exception. We are carefully confronting funding challenges while remaining steadfast in our commitment to fiscal responsibility. Our goal is to strike the right balance: limiting the financial impact on our community while continuing to provide an excellent educational experience for each child, each day.
As always, community voice matters deeply in this work. You will receive invitations to participate in budget conversations and provide feedback. I strongly encourage you to engage in these opportunities. Your perspectives help shape our priorities and ensure that our decisions reflect the values of the Brighton community we serve.
In addition, this year we will be seeking feedback on District programs and services earlier than ever before. We have intentionally moved our strategic planning process to an earlier timeframe in hopes of engaging even more members of our school community in meaningful dialogue about the future of our schools. By doing so, we aim to create greater alignment between community priorities, program planning, and resource allocation.
In short, your voice is not only welcome, it is essential.
Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support. Together, we will continue to ensure that Brighton remains a place where every student feels known, supported, challenged, and inspired.
Even in the midst of winter’s darker days, our students remind us daily that the future is bright.
Go Bruins!
Kevin C. McGowan, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools