Maziarz, Ceretto Back Polka for Regents Board
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In the coming weeks, the New York State Senate and Assembly are expected to convene to jointly elect four individuals to serve on the New York State Board of Regents.
One of the candidates is former superintendent of the Lewiston-Porter School District, Dr. Walter S. Polka. Polka is actively lobbying for the appointment and is reportedly meeting with state legislators in Albany this week to advance his candidacy.
State Sen. George Maziarz (R-C, Newfane) and Assemblyman John Ceretto (R-Lewiston), jointly announced last week that they are supporting Dr. Polka in his effort to be chosen to serve on the Board of Regents as an at-large member.
"With all the controversy going on today about education policy and student testing… Dr. Polka would help steer the State Education Department in the right direction," Maziarz said.
Ceretto said Polka was one of his professors at Niagara University and also knows him through the Kiwanis Club.
"He has his finger on the pulse of what is happening in classrooms today," Ceretto said.
Polka's 36-year career in public education includes his tenure as a social studies teacher in the Lewiston-Porter Central School District in 1968, followed by his entry into the field of administration, serving as Curriculum Coordinator K-12 in the Williamsville Central School District from 1973 to 1986, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at Lewiston-Porter from 1986 to 1990, and Superintendent of Lewiston-Porter from 1990 to 2003.
Polka has also been teaching graduate and undergraduate courses since 1970 as an adjunct professor at Medaille College, Niagara University, Niagara County Community College, State University of New York at Buffalo, State University of New York College at Brockport, State University of New York College at Buffalo and Loyola University of Maryland.
He also written several books and articles on the topic of education, including The Dark Side of Educational Leadership: Superintendents and the Professional Victim Syndrome, published by Rowman & Littlefield (Dec 16, 2008), which he co-wrote with Peter Litchka.
Polka was born and raised in Niagara Falls. He is currently an associate professor of educational leadership at Niagara University.