Dr. James Schlegel has been involved in education for 30 years. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree
from the University at Albany, a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Missouri,
and earned his Doctorate in Education from the Sage Colleges.
Dr. Schlegel began his career in education as a math teacher, coach, and administrator before
accepting the position of Vice Principal at Christian Brothers Academy in 2002. In 2009,
Schlegel was named Principal and in 2020, became the first President in CBA’s history.
He sits on the Lasallian Education Council for the Region of North America, has previously served on the Mission Executive Council for the District of Eastern North America, the Board of Trustees at La Salle Academy in Providence, RI, and numerous academic and athletic committees.
Dr. Schlegel spearheaded an initiative that has seen unprecedented growth at CBA taking
enrollment from 330 to 570 students, and led CBA through two capital campaigns that have
enhanced the academic program and transformed the campus. Schlegel states that the best part of
his job is working with students and watching them grow through the transformational
experiences of middle and high school and develop into the next generation of leaders.
Dr. Schlegel lives in Ballston Lake with his wife of 21 years, Laurel, and daughters, Abigail and
Logan.
Joy Barnard is about two things: dance and helping others. For years she has been studying and teaching dance and performing. Why? She loves it and dance raises peoples’ spirits. She includes fundraising activities with most of her dance events to help where she can. She also travels far and wide to find the best teachers and workshops in order to refine her art. Her focus is on building a large dance community that wants to be the best they can. In her studio, J&R Dance LLC, Joy teaches ballroom and latin dancing and wedding dances and will not let you get away with dancing poorly.
With her extensive training and understanding of the elements of dance she has developed an uncanny ability to turn anyone into a dancer.
She is also very busy attracting top-notch professional dancers from around the nation to come to our area to teach our growing group of dancers through large workshops and private lessons. Currently, she is growing a dance community in West Coast Swing and Argentine Tango, two dances that are becoming widely popular.
Every Thursday night her J&R Dance studio puts on a weekly ballroom dance called “Dance with Joy” at the Ukrainian Hall in Cohoes. In addition to having a good time dancing her goal is to raise money for charities and other humanitarian causes on a weekly basis. In the last year very significant donations have been made to Ukraine Aid, Hospice, Albany Mission, Ronald McDonald House, Typhoon Relief, Medical Supplies, Toys for Tots, and a family displaced by a house fire.
There is nothing ordinary about Joy. She brings her own particular spice and flavor to dance but mostly won’t stop giving to others.
The CBA Big Brothers for Education Scholarship Fund was established as a way to pass on life’s rewards to someone else who might not otherwise have the ability to experience what makes Christian Brothers Academy special. We understand CBA’s value to boys and that not all families can afford full tuition. The community has banded together to create the Big Brothers for Education Fund to provide scholarships to assist families – giving every boy who desires a CBA education the opportunity.