The Bronxville Board of Education has appointed Dr. Roy Montesano as the new superintendent of schools. He will begin his new position on July 1.
Montesano has been working as the superintendent of schools for the Hastings-on-Hudson school district for the last five years.
During his time at Hastings-on-Hudson, he helped the middle school transition from a Focus school, or a school tagged as in need of improvement, to a Reward school, one that has shown improvement in state testing.
Montesano said this switch was made by developing a student-centered school philosophy. There had been a designated subgroup of students who weren’t performing as well on state testing, and the school had to try and find ways to improve their performance. Montesano said that within a year and a half, they were able to make this change.
Montesano also helped create Makerspaces, which are community spaces where people are encouraged to get together to share thoughts and work on projects, in the Hastings middle and elementary schools. They are provided with supplies including 3-D printers, LEGO robotics and computer programming.
Montesano graduated from Fordham University with his doctorate in administration and supervision. He has worked in public education for 37 years, with 19 years of that spent as a superintendent.
Montesano explained he began his work in public education as a science teacher. “I was always interested in science growing up; science and math were my two favorite subjects,” he said.
Montesano said he was “born into an education family.” His father was a superintendent of schools, and his mother and three of his older siblings all went into teaching.
Montesano said that he believes he is coming into this new position with a great deal of experience that will only add to the current school board.
Montesano told the Review that the reason he chose Bronxville was because it is a well-known and successful district, which “has a tradition of excellence.” He went on to say, “I’ve heard so many wonderful things about Bronxville as a district and [as a] community.”
In February 2016, current Superintendent of Schools David Quattrone announced that he would finish his 12th year as a superintendent for Bronxville before retiring in June 2017.
The search for Quattrone’s replacement began in September 2016. This process was aided by School Leadership LLC, a company that helps in the search and advising of potential superintendents.
The school district also opened a survey up to the Bronxville community, which had them answer four questions including their preferred traits in a new superintendent. The results, announced in November 2016, said that people were looking for someone who was inspirational, a good communicator, was good with finances, and would be able to foster trust in the community.
Bronxville will pay Montesano an annual salary of $275,000.
Jeffrey Rohr, president of the Bronxville Board of Education, couldn’t be reached for comment as of press time.
