Office of the District Superintendents
Who are the District Superintendents?
District Superintendents are both Chief Executive Officers of the local BOCES, and representatives of the Commissioner in the field.
The mission of the District Superintendents is to be vigorous agents for reform, effectively advocating for educational excellence and equity on behalf of all learners in New York State. Doing this requires collaboration and leadership at the regional and state level in partnership with the Commissioner of Education, the Board of Regents and local school districts.
Each District Superintendent is expected to provide forceful educational leadership in implementing the new standards, leading local school improvement, engaging the community to support improvement, and detecting, reporting and resolving problems. As Chief Executive Officer of the BOCES, the District Superintendent is expected to use BOCES resources effectively, to support local reform efforts, to improve cost effectiveness, and to make each BOCES a model of high quality and cost effectiveness.
What is the Role of the Office of District Superintendents?
The Office of District Superintendents is responsible for ensuring that the 37 BOCES District Superintendents have the necessary information, assistance and support to: (1) function effectively as the Commissioner’s representative in the field; and (2) effect changes in school districts, school buildings, and ultimately, classrooms in their supervisory regions that result in improved student performance. Because the Office of District Superintendents works directly with the District Superintendents, who are also Department staff, it plays a very unique role in the policy development and implementation process.
The Office of District Superintendents:
- Facilitates communication between the Department and the 37 BOCES District Superintendents throughout the State;
- In collaboration with Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuation Education Senior Managers, analyzes and develops broad policy issues and provides policy clarification/interpretation to District Superintendents;
- Provides oversight and coordinates the work of the District Superintendents as the Commissioner’s representatives;
- Advises the Deputy Commissioner regarding policies affecting the District Superintendents/BOCES in relation to Regents and Department priorities;
- Manages BOCES legislative proposal(s); and
- Arranges the monthly meetings of the District Superintendents.
