GOWANDA — The Gowanda Central School District had two major vacancies to fill this summer on its administrative team, as Middle School Principal Todd Miklas and Elementary School Principal Carrie Dzierba will be retiring prior to the next school year. The district moved quickly in finding their replacements.

Darlene Silleman and Chelsea Kroll were both appointed as Building Principals at the latest meeting of the Gowanda Board of Education. Silleman will be the new Gowanda Middle School Principal, while Kroll takes over as Gowanda Elementary School Principal.

Silleman is a former Gowanda fifth-grade teacher and Board of Education member at Pine Valley. She holds initial certification as a School Building Leader, as well as professional certification as a School District Leader and in Students with Disabilities Birth-Grade 2, Grades 1-6, Early Childhood Education Birth-Grade 2, and Childhood Education Grades 1-6. Silleman’s four-year probationary appointment commences on Aug. 11.

Kroll is a former elementary school teacher who holds a conditional initial certification as a School Building Leader. Her four-year probationary appointment commences on Aug. 6.

The retirement of Dzierba was also officially accepted by the Board. Dzierba will continue to work through July to ease the transition for Kroll as a new principal. Dzierba will then utilize her remaining accumulated personal time off from August through October.

“It has been a great honor and privilege working with the students of the Gowanda Central School District. They are amazing and have brought me so much joy and fulfillment over the last 11 years of my 33 year career,” Dzierba said in her letter of resignation. She later added, “I am confident that I have laid the foundation for great things to come.”

Tiffany Dentice was appointed as District Treasurer, effective Aug. 27. Dentice will begin with a salary of $68,000 with annual increases of 3% each year, beginning July 1. Lea Golden was appointed as IYO Advisor for the 2025-2026 school year, replacing Justin Gill. Amy Mohawk was appointed as My Brother’s Keeper Program Coordinator for the 2025-2026 school year.

Additionally, Tyler Johnson was appointed to the probationary role of Cleaner; Connor Wight was appointed as a volunteer Trap Team Coach; Wendy Luce was approved as a Summer Administrative Intern; and Adam Beiter was approved as a Junior Participant. Krysta Brind’Amour was appointed as a Summer School Substitute Teacher.

The next meeting of the Gowanda Board of Education is today.