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Mostly Cloudy Sewanhaka super resigns
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Less than two years later, the Williams era is over.
He resigned at the district's board meeting May 23.
"I have decided to pursue other opportunities in a K-12 school district and teaching and administration in higher education," Williams said in a statement.
Williams arrived in 2004 with 37 years experience from the Scranton School District. He will remain with the Sewanhaka district through August, to provide stability while the district seeks a superintendent for both the immediate future and beyond.
"We clearly have to look at an interim and long term superintendent, and now is not the best time of year to look for a superintendent," Longtime board member Dr. Roger Roess said. "Most people make the replacement on the July 1 date. Most searches are under way from December."
Sources said Warren Meierdiercks, Sewanhaka's assistant superintendent for finance and operations, is a strong candidate to become interim superintendent. Sources said Meierdiercks will also receive consideration as Williams's permanent successor.
Williams took over a school district that was led by Goldstein for 19 years.
He said among his proudest accomplishments during his Sewanhaka tenure was obtaining Adequate Yearly Progress status in all five schools when four of the five were on the "watch list" last year. He also said all five schools and the district are in Good Standing.
Williams also established the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council, comprised of two students from each of its five schools - Sewanhaka, H. Frank Carey, Elmont, New Hyde Park and Floral Park high schools - who report student body issues directly to Williams.
Roess said in Williams brief tenure, 91 percent of district students graduated with a Regents diploma, which he called a "considerable increase" over previous years. He also credited Williams with instituting an alternative program for home schooled students.
Changes at Sewanhaka extend beyond the superintendent. The eight-member school board is comprised of board members from each of the district's five elementary school districts. Three Sewanhaka school district board members - Elmont's Joy Madera, Franklin Square's Roess and New Hyde Park-Garden City Park's Robert Zacarese - did not seek reelection in May. New appointments to the Sewanhaka school board will be made at the districts' reorganizational meetings in July. Aubrey Phillips, Elmont's representative on the Sewanhaka board, did not return calls.
With Franklin Square Superintendent Dr. Tim Lafferty retiring (former Carey principal Dr. Thomas Dolan is his replacement), Elmont Superintendent Al Harper is now the longest tenured superintendent of the three big area school districts. Harper took over for Dr. Maria Palandra in July 2005.
Comments about this story? FSEditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 240.
He resigned at the district's board meeting May 23.
"I have decided to pursue other opportunities in a K-12 school district and teaching and administration in higher education," Williams said in a statement.
Williams arrived in 2004 with 37 years experience from the Scranton School District. He will remain with the Sewanhaka district through August, to provide stability while the district seeks a superintendent for both the immediate future and beyond.
"We clearly have to look at an interim and long term superintendent, and now is not the best time of year to look for a superintendent," Longtime board member Dr. Roger Roess said. "Most people make the replacement on the July 1 date. Most searches are under way from December."
Williams took over a school district that was led by Goldstein for 19 years.
He said among his proudest accomplishments during his Sewanhaka tenure was obtaining Adequate Yearly Progress status in all five schools when four of the five were on the "watch list" last year. He also said all five schools and the district are in Good Standing.
Williams also established the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council, comprised of two students from each of its five schools - Sewanhaka, H. Frank Carey, Elmont, New Hyde Park and Floral Park high schools - who report student body issues directly to Williams.
Roess said in Williams brief tenure, 91 percent of district students graduated with a Regents diploma, which he called a "considerable increase" over previous years. He also credited Williams with instituting an alternative program for home schooled students.
Changes at Sewanhaka extend beyond the superintendent. The eight-member school board is comprised of board members from each of the district's five elementary school districts. Three Sewanhaka school district board members - Elmont's Joy Madera, Franklin Square's Roess and New Hyde Park-Garden City Park's Robert Zacarese - did not seek reelection in May. New appointments to the Sewanhaka school board will be made at the districts' reorganizational meetings in July. Aubrey Phillips, Elmont's representative on the Sewanhaka board, did not return calls.
With Franklin Square Superintendent Dr. Tim Lafferty retiring (former Carey principal Dr. Thomas Dolan is his replacement), Elmont Superintendent Al Harper is now the longest tenured superintendent of the three big area school districts. Harper took over for Dr. Maria Palandra in July 2005.
Comments about this story? FSEditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 240.
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