Fred Smith, a veteran educator in Westchester, has been named the new superintendent of the Pocantico Hills School District.

Smith, who is currently the assistant superintendent of pupil personnel and curricular services in the New Rochelle School District, will be the first African-American superintendent in the district’s history. He will assume his new position on July 1. Read on for the official press release.

UPDATE: Photo added, courtesy of the New Rochelle school district

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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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.”