After trying retirement for a year, Karlitz realized how near and dear the school was to her and has returned as Interim Head of School.

“I felt that I had served my time after 10 years, so I thought I’d try retirement. I spent the year catching up with my personal life, but Saratoga Independent School has always been a huge part of my life,” she said. “The school is going through a transition and I wanted to be a part of it.”

As part of new initiatives by the school, the east wing is going to be expanded to allow for a middle school curriculum with a projected opening date of Sept. 2009. Currently there are approximately 50 students attending, and with the new expansion, 100 to 120 students will be able to attend.

In her new position, Karlitz runs the daily operations of the school and she works closely with Saratoga Independent School Board of Trustees on an organizational review.

“We the school grows, we need to make sure our organizational structure continues to best support our mission,” she said. “By the 2009-10 school year, we will have finalized the long term administrative structure and be ready to move forward with our plans to expand.”

Karlitz’s previous tenure at Saratoga Independent School included four years as Educational Director and five years as Language Coordinator and Consultant on Academic Excellence. Prior to coming to Saratoga Independent School, she was a teacher in New York City. Together, she brings 30 years of publicly recognized experience in education and program development and implementation.

“We are very pleased that Felice is back at Saratoga Independent School, and that we can once again benefit from her educational expertise and leadership,” said Joe Walsh, president of the school’s Board of Trustees. “There has been an enthusiastic response to her return from our Board, staff and the families of Saratoga Independent School. Many students have already stopped by to welcome her back.”

Saratoga Independent School was opened in 1991 as a New York State private chartered school for elementary and pre-school education. The school’s mission is to empower students to become confident learners who are capable of critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork.

Students are instilled with the values of leadership and respect and are taught the importance of community service. Their motto which covers the walls inside the school reads “we take care of ourselves, each other, our school and our community.”

“I’m just very happy to be back,” Karliz said. “The school and community as a whole has a very vibrant and positive energy and I am proud to be a part of it.”