High School Leadership Team
The Averill Park High School Leadership Team works together to ensure the quality and success of each student’s experience at the high school on all levels. Please feel free to contact us if there is anything that we can help you with.
Mr. Heath Quiles, High School Principal
(518)674-7002
Mr. Quiles joined the APHS Leadership Team as the High School Principal in 2018. Prior to that, from 2011-2018 he served as the High School Principal at Coxsackie-Athens High School. This is Mr. Quiles’ second time working with the APHS community, as he was also the Assistant Principal at APHS from 2006-2011. Prior to the school leadership portions of his career, Mr. Quiles was a Spanish teacher over the course of 13 years at both the middle and high school levels, working in an array of school settings in the US, and abroad. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education for Foreign Language and Literature from Clark University, as well as a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from SUNY Albany. Within the realm of education, Mr. Quiles is particularly interested in working with communities and stakeholders to explore new paradigms and models for creating more relevant and flexible schools and structures which meet the rapidly changing needs of students in today’s world. Outside of school, Mr Quiles and his husband enjoy traveling and outdoors activities. He is learning to play the piano (very slowly and albeit painfully), and is also an avid beekeeper who is currently enrolled as a candidate in the Cornell University Master Beekeeping Program.
Mrs. Christina Mein, Assistant Principal, Grades 10 and 12 (2022-2023)
(518)674-7003
Mrs. Mein joined the APHS Leadership Team as an Assistant Principal in 2016. Prior to that, Mrs. Mein worked at Niskayuna Central School District for fifteen years. There, Mrs. Mein’s administrative experiences included: CSE Chairperson, Dean of Students, Transition Consultant, and Summer School Coordinator/Principal. Before serving in educational leadership roles, Mrs. Mein was a teacher in both Special Education and General Education K-12 both in public and private education. Mrs. Mein holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Science Concentration from SUNY Plattsburgh as well as two Master’s Degrees one is a dual certificate in Special Education & Literacy from Sage Graduate School and the second, is in Educational Leadership, from The College of Saint Rose. Mrs. Mein also possesses a Certificate of Advanced Study for School District Leader from The College of Saint Rose and Wilson Reading Certification from Endicott College. Mrs. Mein enjoys being a lifelong learner and instills that love for learning with the faculty, staff and students that she works with. Creating a positive climate and culture at APHS as well as making positive connections with students and their families are very important to Mrs. Mein. Outside of school, Mrs. Mein enjoys going to the beach, spending time with her family and going for walks with her two dogs, Eddie and Lilly.
Mrs. Rebecca Leach, Assistant Principal, Grades 9 and 11 (2022-2023)
(518)674-7003
Ms. Leach became a member of the Averill Park High School Leadership team in July of 2019. Previously, she worked at Cohoes High School for nineteen years as the high school social worker. Previous to working in schools, she provided clinical counseling in a variety of non for profits in Albany and Schenectady. Mrs. Leach brings with her to AP a unique skill set, perspective and background in student behavior management, development and implementation of school wide academic interventions and tracking systems for struggling learners. In her personal life, Ms. Leach enjoys golfing with her husband and spending time with her two sons. Mrs. Leach holds NYS School Certification in School Building Leader and School Social Work. She completed the Leadership Academy at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in July of 2019 and has a Master’s of Social Work degree from SUNY Albany.