NEW ROCHELLE, NY — In 2008, an employee of the White Plains School District sent a letter to the Pocantico Hills Board of Education strenuously warning them against hiring Freddie Dean Smith as Superintendent of Schools. At the time, Smith was one of several candidates for the position.
Smith was hired about a month later but forced to resign amidst allegations of plagiarism. An investigation by the Journal News found that Smith had plagiarized about one-third of his doctoral dissertation at the University of Virginia which was subsequently revoked.
Over a year ago, Talk of the Sound was first to report that Smith had a lengthy criminal record with a dozen convictions including a felony conviction in Virginia for endangering a police officer. At the time Smith was licensed as an administrator by the New York State Education Department in the Spring of 2003, he was on probation for the Virginia felony and in court on two separate misdemeanor sex crimes charges in South Carolina. Smith was convicted of both sex crimes — following women around in stores with his penis exposed while masturbating. Some but not all of this information was known to NYSED at that time but the information withheld from the three Westchester School Districts that hired Smith between 2003 and 2010 (White Plains, New Rochelle, Pocantico Hills). NYSED confirmed over a year ago that Smith, and the basis on which he received his license, was under investigation but has since stonewalled both Talk of the Sound and four local elected State repsentatives — State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, State Senator George Latimer, State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and State Assemblyman Steve Otis.
The anonymous letter to the Pocantico Hills board made serious allegations against Smith but appears to have been ignored.
The author of the letter reached out to Talk of the Sound last week, seven years after the letter was sent, after having read a recent article about Smith. A copy of the letter was provided to Talk of the Sound following a telephone interview.
The letter is dated April 23, 2008. Copies were sent to then-President Robert W. Balog, a consultant from Sleepy Hollow, NY and then-Vice President Katherine Disher, then residing in Elmsford and until recently an Associate Dean at Pace University.
Balog, who continues to reside in the area, did not respond to phone calls seeking comment.
Disher has left her position at Pace University. Her exact whereabouts are unknown to Talk of the Sound but her husband, Spencer Disher, moved to Charlotte, NC. Katherine Disher did not respond to attempts to reach her through her Facebook page.
In the letter, the author writes that staff in White Plains were “shocked” that Smith was being considered for the top job in Pocantico Hills and warns that Smith is an “unfit and unethical man”.
“White Plains was duped by Smith in 2003,” the letter states.“Then he was fobbed off on New Rochelle in 2006.”
The person states that then-White Plains Superintendent Tim Connors was aware that Smith was a problem. Connors, who retired as Superintedent but later returned on an interim basis, has declined past requests for an interview with Talk of the Sound about Smith.
“While in White Plains Smith failed within several months. He ignored foundational work and pursued grandiose displays. He would bully or smooth talk staff into doing all the work for him and often at the last minute. Projects failed left and right because foundational work was never done.”
The letter states that Smith regularly “practiced sexual harassment”, that there are hosts of examples where Smith was inappropriate with women, and recounts one particular story of a young teaching assistant that was the target of Smith’s interest and how she left her job in the middle of the school year after Smith’s interest in her became known.
Informed over the telephone that Smith had been convicted of multiple sex crimes, including two convictions while serving as Principal at Post Elementary School in White Plains, NY, the sender expressed disbelief that such a person would be hired as a school administrator. The letter’s author proceeded to recount numerous, graphic examples of alleged sexual harassment by Smith.
The letter also highlighted financial improprieties by Smith.
The author states that Smith “tried to buy allies within the school” and that his “impropriety in spending district money” was widely known.
The letter concludes with the author lamenting the hiring of Smith in White Plains.
“We had never see anyone like Fred Smith. I was truly confounded as to how he had ever held a job in education.”
Talk of the Sound obtained a copy of Smith’s job application for the Pocantico Hills under a Freedom of Information request last year.
A significant amount of the information in the job application pertaining to Smith’s resume is either completely false, largely false or misleading. Smith denied having any criminal history despite over a dozen convictions including a felony conviction. Based on the press release distributed at the time of Smith’s hiring (see below) it is clear that the Pocantico Hills School Board did not conduct a meaningful background check before hiring him for their most senior leadership position as their press release repeats several false items from Smith’s job application and fails to mention his criminal history.
In trying to understand how a career-criminal like Smith was hired at Pocantico Hills (especially given the failure of those involved to respond to interview requests), and more broadly how he has managed to skate along through his entire career despite his criminal history, sexual deviancy and sociopathic tendencies, one possible explanation stands out — his ability to game an extensive network of black inter-collegiate Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities and professional Greek-lettered fraternities. In particular, Alpha Phi Alpha, the first black inter-collegiate Greek-lettered fraternity and Sigma Pi Phi, the first black Greek-lettered fraternity for professionals.
Smith, who received his bachelor’s degree from South Carolina State University – Orangeburg, claims to be affiliate with the Eta Zeta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Sigma Pi Phi, an exclusive professional fraternity, which works closely with black inter-collegiate Greek-lettered fraternities, none less so than Alpha Phi Alpha.
Pocantico Hills Board Member Katherine Dowdell Disher married Spencer C. Disher III on October 8, 1989. Both are prominently involved with Sigma Pi Phi in the New York area Spencer C. Disher III is the son of Dr. Spencer C. Disher Jr. Dr. Spencer C. Disher Jr. was a prominent, physician in South Carolina. He died in 2012. Upon his retirement in 2010, Dr. Disher was honored in a speech from the floor of the U.S. Congress by Rep. James E. Clyburn. In the speech Clyburn notes that Dr. Spencer was from Orangeburg, South Carolina, graduated from South Carolina State College, now South Carolina State University – Orangeburg and was a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity another prominent black Greek-lettered fraternity of which Clyburn is also a member.
Research by Talk of the Sound has turned up similar numerous connections between Freddie Dean Smith and various Greek-lettered fraternities.
This is to say nothing against those fraternities or their members but rather to note that Smith seems to have skillfully exploited the black Greek-lettered fraternity (and sorority) network.
In the case of Pocantico Hills, not only was there the Black/Greek connections but both Dr. Disher and his son lived in Orangeburg, SC and Dr. Disher graduated from the same college as Freddie Dean Smith, thus a fellow alumni.
This might go some way towards explaining why Pocantico Hills failed to run their own background check on Smith before placing him in such a senior position.
EDITOR’S NOTE: If Mr. Balog or Ms. Disher or anyone connected with the Pocantico Hills School District wishes to cooperate with a future story, Talk of the Sound would like to hear from them.
POCANTICO HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE – May 2008
Pocantico Hills Board of Education Announces New Superintendent
The Board of Education of the Pocantico Hills Central School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Freddie D. Smith as Superintendent effective July 1, 2008.
Dr. Smith hails from the City School District of New Rochelle where he is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Personnel and Curricular Services. Under Dr. Smith’s leadership he has raised its level of achievement for all students, especially Limited English Proficient and Special Education students. Dr. Smith was instrumental in helping the District win the coveted Magna Award of the National School Boards Association for the District’s exemplary Dual Language Program. He has also assisted the District in significantly increasing its competitive grant awards.
Dr. Smith distinguished himself as Principal of Post Road Elementary School in White Plains, New York. Under his leadership the New York Board of Regents and the State Education Department recognized Post Road School for being one of New York’s 574 “high performing/gap closing schools for two consecutive years. Dr. Smith has also been an Assistant Professor of Education at the University of South Carolina, College of Education, as well as a classroom teacher, school counselor and administrator with the Prince Georges County Public Schools in Maryland.
His educational interests include Asian educational school systems, educational leadership, change management, comprehensive school reform programs, and promising policies, programs and practices intended to close the achievement gap. He also studied at the Seoul National University of Education in Seoul, South Korea as a Foreign Exchange Student. Recently he was featured in the Washington Post Magazine Education Edition with Dr. E.D. Hirsch.
A graduate of South Carolina State University, he received his Master’s degree from Virginia State University and his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education and Darden School of Business. He has held leadership positions in numerous professional and community service organizations and has received several awards for leadership and community service work. He also teaches as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Education at Manhattanville College, Iona College and the College of New Rochelle.
As I was preparing to become the next educational leader of this great school district, I was often asked about my “vision” for Pocantico Hills. Personally, I believe it is our collective vision that should be driving the district forward, but I understand why people want to know mine. My vision is simple; find out what Pocantico Hills is doing great and don’t touch it. Then, find out what Pocantico Hills can do to become better and work to make those changes, said Dr. Smith after his appointment.
The Board of Education, faculty, staff, and the entire Pocantico Hills community look forward to making the “vision” Dr. Smith shared become a reality. Robert W. Balog, School Board President, commented that we as a Board of Education and as a community are very fortunate to have found such a great match for the leadership position at Pocantico Hills. I believe that Dr. Smith’s potential as an educational leader is unlimited. The Board of Education heartily welcomes Dr. Smith and looks forward to great things to come.
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