Robert M. Cluckey has been named the new president/principal of Niagara Catholic Jr./Sr. High School effective July 11. Ronald Buggs, who served as president/principal for three years, is retiring.  

Cluckey brings extensive administrative experience to the position. He has served as the director of Special Programs at Niagara Orleans Board of Cooperative Educational Services for the past 12 years. He has firsthand knowledge and experience in Niagara County working with numerous educational institutions both public and private.

He began his career as a teacher and later as a school counselor. In 1989, he started his administrative career as an assistant principal at Orchard Park CSD.  He then became principal at Holland CSD. Cluckey was later appointed director of pupil personnel at Frontier CSD before his tenure at Orleans Niagara BOCES.
Under Cluckey's leadership, new student programs have been successfully implemented as well as consolidating existing programs for academic and financial efficiency. Cluckey enjoys a well-earned reputation at the state and local levels for integrity, hard work and the ability to build high performing teams.

Cluckey attended Mother of Divine Grace Grammar School in Cheektowaga and Bishop Neumann High School in Williamsville. He earned a master's degree for St. Bonaventure University and did his doctoral work at the University of Buffalo.

He has memberships in numerous professional and civic organizations including Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Phi Delta Kappa, the Boys and Girls Club, Parish Council and Council for Exceptional Children.

He also serves on the board of Niagara County's Juvenile Justice Task Force, New York Success and the Re-entry Task Force.

"We are pleased to welcome Bob Cluckey to our team as Niagara Catholic's new principal/president," said Judi Nolan Powell, chair on Niagara Catholic's board of trustees. "Bob's many experiences in educational leadership at all levels give us the confidence that Niagara Catholic will continue to be in good hands.

"His passion for excellence and commitment to the values imbedded in Catholic education will serve us well in the future. Bob's vast network of contacts in education across our Niagara County market is an added benefit for us. As we welcome Bob to the Niagara Catholic family, we also want to express our sincere gratitude to Ron Buggs for his passion and accomplishments at the helm of Niagara Catholic these past three years. Ron leaves a legacy of excellence in leadership at Niagara Catholic and we wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement."

"I am absolutely thrilled for the opportunity to serve the students and school community of Niagara Catholic," Cluckey said. "I look forward to contributing to an outstanding legacy of high expectations, significant results and positive partnerships. Niagara Catholic is a special place and I am honored to have been selected for this leadership position."