| The Nyack Public Schools, a top-rated public school system located along the banks of the Hudson River in Rockland County, is seeking a Superintendent of Schools upon the retirement of Dr. James Montesano, who is completing his 10th year as superintendent in the district. The district is distinguished by “charming downtown shops and restaurants, small communities with local business owners, vibrant venues for music, visual and performing arts, picturesque park lands and hiking trails, a variety of housing options, and easy access to major transportation leading to a host of academic and cultural resources.” Proximal to NYC, the district encompasses eight square miles that include Central Nyack, Nyack, South Nyack, Upper Grandview, Upper Nyack, and Valley Cottage. Nyack’s “blend of races, cultures, religions, and socio-economic groups form a population mix that is both a genuine source of pride and a valuable educational resource.” The district is comprised of three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school with a student population of approximately 2,875. Nyack Public Schools is committed to “Building Bridges for today’s students to cross into tomorrow’s world with Equity, Innovation and Optimism.” The Board of Education is seeking a leader who can extend successful programs and identify the path and means to greater opportunities for all Nyack students For more information, please visit https://www.nyackschools.org/. Among the many hallmarks of the Nyack Public Schools recently cited by staff, students, and residents are: - A charming and vibrant village on the Hudson
- An aesthetically beautiful place to live, learn, and work
- A “healthy” community with pride in itself
- A community with strong support for the arts
- A community that strives for social justice
- A community rich with cultural and economic diversity
- A community that works well together
- A district with a deep sense of school-community connectedness
- A community that provides good resources for the schools
- A district that makes good use of community resources, particularly in the visual and performing arts
- Strong school spirit
- Great students, staff, and community: “Well-rounded students are the best part of the district”
- The district has enjoyed stable leadership
Some of the major leadership challenges for the new superintendent, also cited by staff, students, and residents, are: - Planning for a growing and changing student population
- Addressing diverse student needs while recognizing existing forms of segregation
- Navigating the needs of many disparate interests and how to best make connections
- Understanding and embracing the culture of the district and its holistic issues related to equity
- Sustaining the work and strategic priorities of the Nyack’s Equity Initiative
- Aligning district office leadership to enhance effectiveness, transparency, communication, trust, operational efficiency, accountability, responsiveness, and relationships with faculty and leadership in schools
- Continuing the curricular and instructional leadership of the current superintendent and expanding that to other central office leaders
- Taking programs to the next level in the context of fiscal challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic
- Addressing the likely fiscal impact on State Aid and Local Taxes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic
- Addressing with the community the possible program and fiscal implications of a private school utilizing the Nyack College property
- Planning effectively for post-COVID programs and services
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