CARMEL – Erin Meehan-Fairben walked into her new office for the first time Monday as Carmel’s new superintendent of schools.
Walking in was emotional for the career educator since her father, the late Richard Meehan, sat in the same chief school administrator’s chair at the district’s administrative office in Patterson 51 years ago when he served as Carmel superintendent.
Fairben brings with her decades of leadership experience in building strong relationships with her staff and community.
“Throughout my career, I have worked to create inclusive environments in which students and families feel a sense of ownership and connection to the schools,” said the new superintendent. “I will continue to work closely with students, families, and the larger Carmel community to continue this work.”
Fairben has been an educator for 32 years. She has taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels as well as college for aspiring educators at SUNY Brockport, St. John Fisher, and Hobart and William Smith colleges.
Throughout her career, Fairben has held various leadership roles at both the building and district level including assistant principal, principal, director of pupil personnel services and special programs, superintendent of the New York State School for the Blind, assistant superintendent and most recently as an associate superintendent at the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES in upstate New York.
Fairben is no stranger to the Carmel community. She was born at Putnam Hospital and lived in the district until she was five years old.
