Administration
Mr. Benjamin Halsey
Superintendent of Schools
17 years of Superintendent Experience over 3 school districts including North Collins Central School, Oswego City Schools, and Pioneer Central School.
Served as a Junior-Senior HS Principal, Assistant Principal, and Athletic Director before becoming a Superintendent. I have also held the title of Business Official, Director of Special Education, and Transportation Director during my educational career.
I began my teaching career as a physical education and health teacher and I have coached all levels of sports including football, wrestling, basketball, baseball and softball,
Bachelor's Degree from St. Lawrence University, and Masters Degrees from University at Buffalo , and St. Bonaventure University.
I enjoy sports, weightlifting, learning to cook, watching my children grow up and I am a die-hard Buffalo Bills, Syracuse Orange and now The Flying Forts fan.
Could not be more proud to be here.
Ms. Erin Russo
K-12 Principal
Originally from Johnstown, NY, Mrs. Russo is happy to be coming back to the area. After graduating from Wake Forest University in North Carolina, she received her Masters in School Counseling from Sage Graduate School. Mrs. Russo has been involved in the education field since 2000. She served most of that time as a school counselor. In 2021, she received her administrative degree from MCLA. She served as summer school principal before coming to Fort Edward.
"I see my role as principal as a supportive one; I want to support the teachers and the students of Fort Edward to make sure they have what they need to do their best everyday. I believe in listening, observing, and reflecting, and not being afraid to do something different. I believe in collaboration and communication. Most importantly, I believe that we are all on the same team."
Mrs. Russo and her husband have two children and one dog. Her hobbies include running and working out (sometimes faithfully, sometimes not), reading, and traveling.
Ms. Mallory Lansley
Director of Pupil Services
Mrs. Lansley has been working in the realm of special education for over ten years. She hails from Pittsburgh, PA. After working a couple of years in higher education, Mrs. Lansley pursued her Master's of Teaching with a focus in Special Education from Liberty University and proudly accepted her first teaching job in Maryland in 2014. In 2019, Mrs. Lansley and her husband relocated to the Capital Region to be closer to their family. She served as a Special Education Teacher at Queensbury UFSD and Whitehall CSD. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Lansley has coached cheerleading and served as a special education department chair, drama club advisor, and grade level team leader. Prior to being appointed the Director of Pupil Services at Fort Edward, she earned her School Building Leader (2023) and School District Leader (2024) certificates from SUNY Plattsburgh.
Mrs. Lansley believes in teamwork and working collaboratively with all staff. She is committed to ensuring that the educational programs at the Fort provide equity and inclusion, where all students have their needs met efficiently and effectively, and everyone has the opportunity to reach their maximum potential.
In her spare time, Mrs. Lansley enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time on the Great Sacandaga Lake, reading, and going on hikes with their dog, Rocco.