Livingston man dies of crash injuries

HUDSON–Elsa Kortright-Torres has been hired by the Hudson City School District as executive director of Teaching and Learning, bringing extensive experience as an elementary school bilingual classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent, Hudson Superintendent Juliette Pennyman announced in a press release.

“I am thrilled to join Hudson’s schools,” Dr. Kortright-Torres said in the release. “Great practices should take place in every school at every level. I want to be that person who helps a child succeed. I see assets; every student has them. It’s a matter of bringing those assets out of each student and sharing them with others.”

The Hudson City School District Board of Education approved Dr. Kortright-Torres’ hire during its May 21 meeting. She starts July 1.

“We look forward to Dr. Kortright-Torres bringing her deep, diverse expertise to our school district. Her impressive track record and credentials demonstrate her commitment to nurturing collaborative relationships, listening, learning, and framing strategies and decisions with the best interests of our students in mind,” Dr. Pennyman said in the release.

Dr. Kortright-Torres will oversee three vital areas: the curriculum being taught; teaching methods and practices; and assessments. “I will lend a lot of support to students, families and teachers,” she said. “My job is to look at the instructional aspect of the school district and determine how we’re supporting the priorities of the Superintendent and Board of Education, how we’re in compliance with New York State Education Department expectations and how we ensure students are successful.”

Dr. Kortright-Torres also prioritizes the human side of education – including students’ individuality. This includes ensuring students feel welcome, safe and are in an affirming environment.

“Students are our No. 1 consumer. I want to hear what they’re talking about, to go into the cafeteria, to have lunch with them, to talk about what’s happening in classrooms,” Dr. Kortright-Torres said. “It’s important for me to understand the dynamics of school culture and what students value most. That helps us capitalize on cultural experiences as we bring the world into the classroom, advancing how students learn from each other.”

Dr. Kortright-Torres burnished such skills at each step of her career. Her first job was as a bilingual 1st grade, 3rd, 4th grade gifted and talented teacher in New York City, where she was named Teacher of the Year. Moving to the Tarrytown School District in Westchester County, she served as a bilingual first grade teacher and assistant to the principal before being promoted to assistant principal and District English as a Second Language and Spanish instructor. In the Newburgh School District, she served as an assistant principal and principal. After a stint as a principal in Elmsford schools, she was interim assistant superintendent for instruction in Dutchess County’s Pawling school district, an assistant principal in Hillsborough schools in Tampa, FL, and then returned to New York City schools as assistant superintendent before joining Hudson.

Dr. Kortright-Torres chose education as her career because of her experiences as a 13-year-old who had moved from Puerto Rico to New York City, speaking only Spanish. She persevered, learning English, which led to an epiphany that she wanted, as a career, to support students’ abilities to overcome and achieve. “This is a calling,” she said. “I want every student to have a sense of self and success. I knew I had it in me to help others; that was my passion and is still my passion today.”

Dr. Kortright-Torres also will focus on cultivating relationships in each of Hudson’s three schools. “Let’s try to figure this out together,” she said. “My approach is about collaboration to ensure students are learning. To be successful, what is the No. 1 thing we value in Hudson graduates? We want them to be good citizens, value civic responsibility, have a lifelong love of learning, and succeed in college, careers and being financially independent. That is our North Star. Those lessons start in kindergarten.”

Dr. Kortright-Torres earned her Doctorate of Education degree in Educational Leadership with Distinction in December 2022 from Northcentral University in San Diego. Her advanced graduate study in District/School Administration at Mercy College in Yorktown Heights also earned distinction. She received her master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Hunter College of the City University of New York in New York City, where she also earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology/elementary education, as well as her permanent certifications in School Building/District Administration and Elementary Education and Bilingual Extension.

“I’m excited about this opportunity to engage with the community in my first few days and weeks, and I’m excited about meeting new people and engaging with students, parents, families and our faculty,” she said.