By Carol P. Bartold

Mar. 22, 2017:  Dr. Roy R. Montesano, current superintendent of Hastings-on-Hudson Union Free School District, has been named the next superintendent of the Bronxville Union Free School District. Dr. Montesano will assume his duties at The Bronxville School on July 1, 2017, upon the June 30 retirement of Superintendent Dr. David Quattrone.

Emerging as the strongest candidate from a pool of 63 applicants, Dr. Montesano comes to Bronxville with 37 years of public education experience, the last five years at Hastings-on-Hudson. He served as superintendent of the Ramsey (New Jersey) Public School District for six years prior to that. In 2012, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators named Montesano the state's 2012 Superintendent of the Year.

At Hastings-on-Hudson, Dr. Montesano demonstrated solid educational leadership by boosting academic achievement in the middle school so that it improved from a Focus School, a designation by the New York State Education Department as a school showing low academic performance in English Language Arts and mathematics, to a Reward School, one showing two years of improvement and closing the gap between the highest- and lowest-performing students.

Dr. Montesano also increased STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) offerings for students, established a student-centered, technology-based classroom instruction philosophy, and developed elementary and middle school makerspaces--collaborative work areas where students create, learn, and explore using both high- and low-tech tools.

During his tenure at Hastings-on-Hudson, the district passed a bond referendum to institute full-day kindergarten.

A graduate of Cook College at Rutgers University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in environmental science, Dr. Montesano received a master in administration degree from Seton Hall University and a doctor of education (EdD) degree in educational leadership and administration.

"The board believes that Dr. Montesano's depth of experience and enthusiasm as an educator will continue to advance The Bronxville School's tradition of academic excellence," said Jeffrey Rohr, president of the Bronxville Board of Education.

Rohr added that board members and Bronxville School staff members made an onsite visit to Hastings-on-Hudson for a final vetting, where they consulted with at least 40 people, including PTA members, board of education members, principals, faculty members, and officials of the Hastings Education Foundation. "The references were all outstanding," Rohr noted.

Of the 63 applicants for the superintendent post, 41 were male and 22 female. Twenty-three were superintendents, 18 assistant superintendents, and 15 principals or headmasters, and seven held other positions. Thirty-nine applicants held doctorate degrees. Thirty-six applicants came from within New York State and 27 from other states.

Board trustee Thomas Curran stated that of all the candidates interviewed and vetted, Dr. Montesano "distinguished himself in positive ways right from the start."

Pictured here:  Dr. Roy R. Montesano, newly appointed superintendent of the Bronxville schools.

Photo courtesy Connie Lourentzatos, Secretary to Superintendent