NEW ROCHELLE, NY (March 14, 2023) — In what is almost certainly a record for the State of New York, the New Rochelle Board of Education has announced their 8th Superintendent in 9 years.
The New Rochelle Board of Education today announced it is expected to approve a three-year contract with Dr. Corey W. Reynolds to become the next Superintendent of the City School District of New Rochelle effective July 1, 2023 at tonight’s meeting.
In making the announcement, Board President William Ianuzzi said, implausibly given the past decade of musical chairs, Dr. Reynolds will bring stability and continuity.
Reynolds will succeed Raymond on July 1, 2023 to become New Rochelle’s 8th Superintendent in 9 years, going back to Richard Organisciak‘s final year. The average tenure of a New Rochelle Superintendent since 2014 has been about one and a half years.
- Richard Organisciak 2007 – 2014
- Dr. Jeffery Korostoff 2014 – 2015
- Dr. Brian Osborne 2015 – 2018
- Dr. Magda Parvey 2018 – 2019
- Dr. Laura Feijóo 2019 – 2020
- Dr. Alex Marrero 2020 – 2021
- Jonathon Raymond 2021 – 2023
- Dr. Corey Reynolds 2023 – ?
UPDATE 12:30 PM: A “press conference” was held at 11:45 AM. Talk of the Sound was not invited but attended after learning of it from members of the CAC who were invited. Invited or not, no other media outlets attended. Board President William Ianuzzi acted as MC, with New Rochelle Schools Superintendent Jonathan P. Raymond, Board VP Adina Barrios-Brooks, A&S President Melissa Passarelli and FUSE President Mary Breslin spoke briefly before Dr. Reynolds was introduced.
UPDATE 10:15 PM: The Board unanimously approved a three-year contract with Dr. Reynolds during a meeting Tuesday at Jefferson Elementary School.
The Reynolds hiring is no surprise to Talk of the Sound readers as on January 25, before the search officially began, that the word around City Hall was that Reynolds was the “front runner”.
Reynolds, to the surprise of no one at the central office, was one of three finalists who made presentations to a Citizen Advisory Committee on March 2.
Under the Superintendent Search time line announced in January, the selection of the new superintendent was to be announced to the public after March 14 — after the Board of Education meeting scheduled for tonight at Jefferson School. The planned announcement was changed to before the board meeting, that the board expected to announce a new Superintendent, out of concern that the decision would be leaked to this reporter and published on Talk of the Sound as occurred with the three finalists on March 2.
Dr. Reynolds is currently the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources/Chief Human Resources Officer for the City School District of New Rochelle. He joined the school district in August 2021. Dr. Reynolds will succeed Jonathan P. Raymond, who is leaving at the end of the current school year due to family considerations.
What they are saying:
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Corey Reynolds: “I am excited by this opportunity to lead the City School District of New Rochelle and appreciate the trust placed in me by the Board of Education. I look forward to continuing the substantial innovations implemented by Mr. Raymond, as well as partnering with our dedicated faculty, staff, students and community on new strategies that advance academic, social and emotional learning. All are vital for career and life readiness. It is important that we, as individuals, have high self-expectations for excellence everyday – in every interaction – for the success of our children.”
Board President William Iannuzzi: “In addition to his outstanding educational credentials, Dr. Reynolds will bring stability and continuity as he continues the strong progress made under the leadership of Superintendent Jonathan Raymond. Dr. Reynolds has a deep understanding of our school district. That, blended with his experience as a teacher, principal, and administrator at several Westchester County school districts, will inspire dynamic new initiatives that will further advance achievement for the whole child.”
New Rochelle Schools Superintendent Jonathan P. Raymond: “Dr. Reynolds was one of my first hires when I came to New Rochelle. I have come to rely upon him for his knowledge, experience, judgment, commitment to New Rochelle, and his love for children. He is going to be an exceptional superintendent.”
President of the New Rochelle Federation of United School Employees (FUSE) Mary Claire Breslin: “The New Rochelle Federation of United School Employees (FUSE) is pleased that the Board of Education has selected Dr. Corey Reynolds as our next superintendent. Dr. Reynolds has been in New Rochelle long enough to witness, recognize, and value the good work that goes on in our schools every day. The FUSE is confident that Dr. Reynolds will continue to cultivate the shared vision of cooperation and partnership that we continue to forge for the betterment of students, staff, and the larger school community.”
President of the New Rochelle Administrative & Supervisory Bargaining Unit Melissa Passarelli: “The Administrative & Supervisory Unit looks forward to working in partnership with Dr. Corey Reynolds, along with the broader New Rochelle Community, in service to our students and their families. We are committed to working collaboratively with our new superintendent and his cabinet on innovative initiatives to ensure the success of all students.”
Reynolds started his career in Westchester as an elementary school teacher in the Mount Vernon and Greenburgh Central School District schools, and rose through administrative ranks with the goal of helping students beyond the walls of his own classroom. Before joining the City School District of New Rochelle, he served as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Personnel in Greenburgh. He also has held the position of Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in the White Plains School District; was Assistant Superintendent for Supervision, Curriculum and Instruction for Elementary Administration in the Yonkers Public Schools; and was an Assistant Principal and Principal for a decade in the Ossining Union Free School District.
Dr. Reynolds past activity includes serving on the Leadership Advisory Committee for the Putnam/Northern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services Center for Educational Leadership, and the City of White Plains My Brother’s Keeper Initiative Advisory Board. He also has served as president of the Beta Alpha Alpha Scholarship Foundation, the foundation arm of the Westchester chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity which in 2019 initiated Louis Farrakhan as a full member of Omega Psi Phi.
Thank you to my brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for presenting me with an Honorary Membership. As long as we live, let’s strive for those fundamental principles that make an Omega man a man after God. pic.twitter.com/Y5kHTFKaCV
— THE HONORABLE MINISTER LOUIS FARRAKHAN (@LouisFarrakhan) February 3, 2019
Reynolds received his bachelor’s degree in English from Seton Hall University and his master’s degree in Elementary Education from Fordham University. He received his second master’s degree from the College of New Rochelle, specializing in School Administration and Supervision, and later returned to Seton Hall for his doctoral degree in Education Leadership, Management, and Policy.
Dr. Reynolds will continue his Human Resources responsibilities through the end of the school year, and begin a transfer of knowledge from Mr. Raymond. Dr. Reynolds will also begin to meet with stakeholders and community leaders during this time.
When Dr. Reynolds becomes Superintendent on July 1, 2023, his salary will be $290,000.
RELATED:
New Rochelle Board of Education Superintendent Search Narrows to 3 Candidates
Perfunctory Superintendent Search Suggests New Rochelle Board Has Their Candidate in Hand
New Rochelle Schools Superintendent Unexpectedly Resigns, Effective 6/30
New Rochelle Board of Ed Investigating Allegations of Anti-Semitism Against HR Director
New Rochelle Schools Hires a New Human Resources Chief
Jonathan P. Raymond Selected as New Rochelle School Superintendent