About Us

About our School District

About our Superintendent of Schools

Ms. Alicia D. Koster

Get to know Superintendent Alicia D. Koster, a dedicated and compassionate leader who is transforming the Greater Johnstown School District.

Ms. Alicia D. Koster became Superintendent of Schools in 2025, after serving the District for four years as Assistant Superintendent. With an impressive career spanning nearly 30 years in public education, Ms. Koster’s professional trajectory is marked by her unwavering commitment to nurturing both students and the community. 

Her academic credentials are a testament to her passion for education and leadership. She earned a master’s degree and a certificate of advanced studies in Educational Administration from SUNY New Paltz, alongside an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Currently, she’s furthering her expertise by pursuing a doctorate in Educational Administration from Seton Hall University. She holds micro-credentials from Teachers College at Columbia University for Education Policy and Education Finance from Georgetown University.

Ms. Koster’s four-year tenure as the GJSD Assistant Superintendent was quite impactful. She played a crucial role in stabilizing the District’s finances during challenging times, reversing years of financial instability that had affected teachers, students, and the wider community. Her strategic vision and financial acumen restored much-needed stability and a positive trajectory towards the goal of educational excellence for all students, in a safe and welcoming environment.

Her leadership is defined by her holistic perspective to education. She ensures that all day-to-day work aligns with the broader mission to fulfill the District’s vision, mission, and goals, and has implemented a 10-year strategic plan focusing on academic excellence, student engagement, robust support services, and long-term fiscal health. Her efforts ensure that Johnstown not only meets but exceeds regional educational standards.

The Greater Johnstown School District will provide the essential educational resources that support a fully engaged culture of continuous improvement and diverse, high-quality academic opportunities that equip students with the knowledge, skills and abilities they need to be contributing citizens in a stronger society.

The Greater Johnstown School District Mission Statement

About our School Buildings

The school district consists of five buildings:

• Pleasant Avenue Elementary (Pre-K, Kindergarten and Grade 1)
• Warren Street Elementary (Grades 2-4)
• Knox Middle School (Grades 5-7)
• Johnstown High School (Grades 8-12)
• Glebe Street School, formerly used as an elementary school building for the District, the building currently hosts the HFM BOCES Regional PTECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School).

All of our buildings are carefully maintained, with well-equipped media centers and computer labs. The Knox complex boasts the venerable Knox Field, an interscholastic stadium featuring lights and a turf field, suitable for a wide variety of athletic events. Johnstown High School hosts the District’s indoor pool, lighted pickle ball and basketball courts and the Johnstown Performing Arts Center, a stunning, modern, state-of-the-art auditorium for musical and theatrical events.

About the Johnstown Community

Johnstown is a small city in Fulton County, New York, comprised of approximately 8,500 residents. It is conveniently located midway between Albany and Utica, and is just five miles north of New York State Thruway Exit 28, providing an easy commute. The socioeconomic character of the community is diversified. The main industries are tourism and small manufacturing in the city proper and farming in the adjoining towns.

Many recreational opportunities are available to residents and vacationers throughout the year, including boating on nearby lakes, cross country and downhill skiing, golf, bicycling, jogging, tennis, fishing and hunting. Cultural events are often provided by civic bands and art galleries. Educational opportunities abound, with the Greater Johnstown School District offering fine scholastic, athletic and music programs and Fulton Montgomery Community College just minutes away.

The city’s colorful history harkens back to colonial times, and people from near and far enjoy visiting such landmarks as the baronial estate of Sir William Johnson, learning about the hometown of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and touring the Johnstown School Museum.

Johnstown Community Art Mural

The eight-foot-by-20-foot mural, created by Johnstown High School students, depicts a montage of various Johnstown historical images. It is displayed downtown on the City Water Dept. building, next to Stewart’s on the corner of Main and Perry streets.

Some of the images on the mural include Sir William Johnson, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Rose Knox, Johnstown Court House, St. John’s Church, Johnson Hall, F, J & G Railroad, Knox Gelatin and images of the glove industry.