Jan. 29, 2014:  With the retirement of Assistant Superintendent Dr. John Kehoe, The Bronxville School has entered a new phase of the succession plan begun in 2011.

To meet the goal of guiding a new generation of leadership into the school system while retaining continuity of services during redistribution of responsibilities, the board authorized Kehoe to return on a temporary part-time basis from February 1, 2014, through June 20, 2015. He will serve as director of operations.

Superintendent Dr. David Quattrone stated that the administration plans to return to the board in February and March with plans to replace Kehoe's assistant superintendent position.

Elementary School Principal:  Quattrone reported that the search process for a permanent elementary school principal, an anticipated milestone in the succession plan, continues. Heidi Menzel has served as interim elementary school principal since Dr. Thomas Wilson was appointed middle school principal in 2012.

The district received approximately 80 applications for the elementary school principal position within one week of its two-week posting period in major newspapers, educational publications, and online recruitment sites. Quattrone outlined plans for the hiring process, which include screening resumes and appointing and training an interview committee. The committee will consist of board members, parents, and teachers, and it will most likely conduct interviews during the week of March 3.

Director of Curriculum Instruction:  Quattrone announced that, in the coming months, he will request that the board create and fill a new position, director of curriculum instruction. The position calls for an educator who is a strategic thinker and who understands the complex relationships among curriculum, instructional practice, and assessment. The director of curriculum will also apply the use of technology in data analysis and research to strengthen those key relationships.

"I'm a firm believer that technology is not an end in itself," Quattrone stated. "For me the driving question is instructional." He cited the importance of teachers' having capabilities to use in-house data for their lesson planning and evaluating how they can use technology to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving.

"We have active, informed leadership on the part of our principals as we think through how best to tie the three schools together and move from individual uses to more systemic programs of technology," Quattrone said.

Quattrone added that, although succession processes are still unfolding, bringing new and talented people to the district represents an exciting time in its history.

Pictured here (L to R): School board chairman David Brashear, Dr. David Quattrone, and school trustee Pierre de Saint Phalle.

Photo by Carol P. Bartold