Cobleskill-Richmondville's new superintendent comes from one of Schoharie County's smallest school districts.
Carl Mummenthey, superintendent at Jefferson for nine years, will replace retiring Lynn Macan.
C-R school board members approved the appointment Monday night. It's a three-year contract that pays $143,500 the first year.
Neither the school board nor Mr. Mummenthey is concerned that he's coming from such a small district. C-R, Mr. Mummenthey observed, has more staff members than Jefferson has students.
But Mr. Mummenthey, 43, believes the leadership skills he honed at Jefferson will translate well to C-R. He said he's a strong supporter of staff members and stresses team-building, planning and being proactive.
"I think we've shown success [at Jefferson] at attracting and retaining high-quality people," Mr. Mummenthey said. "We work hard to support people so they can focus on teaching."
He also emphasizes sound communications with the school and community.
"It's essential to build positive relations in the community that foster education," Mr. Mummenthey said.
Those are the qualities the C-R board valued in picking Mr. Mummenthey over David Ziskin, the other finalist for the job.
Board President Bruce Tryon noted Mr. Mummenthey's experience in instruction, labor and personnel management and budgeting.
"The board had no reservations whatsoever about choosing Carl because he came from a smaller school district," Mr. Tryon said.
"His experience as a superintendent has been vast. He has a proven record of leadership, and we are confident he will continue to exhibit the same management and leadership at C-RCS."
During Mr. Mummenthey's tenure at Jefferson, the district earned national and state recognition. It's been on US News and World Report's list of the best high schools six out of the past nine years.
Also, Buffalo Business First, a business magazine, rated Jefferson as having the best graduation rate of any district in the Capital Region.
"When you're a small Schoharie County district and can share the spotlight with the Niskayunas and the Guilderlands, that's a good thing," Mr. Mummenthey said.
At the same time, Buffalo Business First rated Jefferson the fourth poorest school district in Upstate New York.
So how did Jefferson rank so high academically while being so poor?
"It was the faculty, staff, parents and students who worked tirelessly," said Mr. Mummenthey. "We're so fortunate to have the people we've assembled here."
Mr. Mummenthey pointed to the experience he gained in leading Jefferson through the recession.
"We balance the needs of the district against the ability of the community to pay," he said.
"We recognize the demands the tax levy places on taxpayers, but we've been serving students successfully with 15 percent fewer staff than we had in 2005."
In the long interview process, Mr. Mummenthey toured C-R schools and came away impressed with "the instruction, competence and skill of the teachers. And the students were terrific."
Longtime Jefferson residents, Mr. Mummenthey and his wife, Tabitha, wanted to stay in Schoharie County, yet he was looking for another professional opportunity. The opening at C-R came at the right time.
"We are committed to Schoharie County," he said. "The size and complexity of the district. . . It's a terrific challenge for me personally.
"I'm very excited at the prospect of joining and leading this terrific school community. I want to contribute in a positive way to the school's continued success."
When Mr. Mummenthey will start at C-R is uncertain. Though the board approved his appointment, there's a 90-day clause in his Jefferson contract that he has "every intention of honoring because it's the right thing to do."
Ninety days means Mr. Mummenthey might start at the end of September. However, if Jefferson finds a new superintendent or an interim administrator before that, Mr. Mummenthey will come to C-R at an earlier date.

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Mr. Mummenthey taught high school English, was a curriculum and staff development specialist and served as a middle and high school principal before coming to Jefferson.
The Mummentheys have two children, Andrew, 10, and Ainsley, 7. The family plans to remain in Jefferson for now.