2024-25 Superintendent Selection Process

Dear Nyack Public Schools Community and Staff,

We would like to update the community on the Superintendent selection process and as the Board of Education, we are pleased to announce Dr. Lizzette Ruiz-Giovinazzi as our final choice for the Superintendent position for Nyack Public Schools. This decision has been carefully determined through a confidential and thorough process that we strongly believe has resulted in identifying the best candidate to lead the school community forward. We are confident that Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi’s leadership, vision, characteristics and proven expertise is what is right for Nyack now.

We want to provide context for why our process that culminated in this determination has been different from previous superintendent selection processes. In reflecting on our past external, competitive searches, we recognize that the results were not what we expected and did not result in long term retention of previous superintendents. Therefore, we knew we wanted to do things differently. 

Over the past six months, we have consulted with an external search firm, multiple local BOCES who have assisted with local searches, and heard about internal-focused searches from NY State and school boards nationwide. We have listened to unsolicited input from many stakeholders. Ultimately, we decided to focus on Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi in her concurrent, critical responsibilities as Interim Superintendent and we as the BOE:

• Developed a list of Desired Characteristics based on prior community and staff input and analyzed them with the performance of Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi
• Monitored her ongoing performance carefully for six months in the role of Interim Superintendent
• Provided a framework of expectations for Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi to deliver a presentation to the Board that focused on her leadership vision
• Conducted an extensive Q&A session following that presentation
• Conducted a formal interview with Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi as a prime candidate
• Arranged an interview for the Nyack Teachers’ Association leadership with Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi

We have concluded that as Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi has actively engaged with an expansive variety of community leaders, inclusive to the great diversity of groups and stakeholders among us, she has earned widespread praise for her communication, accessibility, student-centered approach and leadership in education.

Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi holds an earned doctorate, a distinction achieved by fewer than 44% of superintendents in New York State. Prior to her current role as District Interim Superintendent, Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi served as the district’s Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction since beginning her work with us in April of 2022. She was appointed as Interim Superintendent most recently in July of 2024. She has quickly proven her ability to lead and uplift others with her unique set of skills and dedication to Nyack’s mission and vision. Her familiarity with the district’s culture, students, and families positions her to continue fostering progress without delay.

We invite the community to hear about Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi’s leadership vision and participate by asking questions of their own on January 14, 2025 at 6:30pm during a Special BOE Meeting. For additional information about this selection process, timeline, rationale and desired characteristics, please visit the district website’s BOE Update Page. We would like to thank the school community for your partnership and wish you much health and happiness during this holiday season. 

Sincerely,

The Nyack Schools Board of Education

7-1-24 Statement to Appoint Acting Superintendent

7-9-24 Oath of Office for Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi as Acting Superintendent

7-23-24 BOE Meeting Statement to Appoint Interim Superintendent

8-28-24 Superintendent’s Conference Day - Commencement of 2024-25 School Year

9-17-24 BOE Meeting Presentation of Superintendent’s Goals for 2024-25

10-15-24 Statement from President Marraccino during the BOE Meeting: 

The Board of Education for Nyack Public Schools is committed to ensuring a robust process for appointing a permanent Superintendent role that most excellently reflects the district’s vision, mission, and desired characteristics of leadership as indicated by the community in the past few years. Prioritizing the interest and investment of our school community, we will keep stakeholders informed of the process in the coming weeks and through the end of this calendar year. We thank the school community for continued partnership in working together for the success of our children and future of our schools.

10-29-24 Presentation to the BOE - Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi's Leadership Vision

12-10-24 BOE Update to Superintendent Selection Process

1-14-25 BOE Special Meeting to share Dr. LRG Leadership Vision with the school community

1-21-25 BOE Meeting and 2024-25 District Goals Update from Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi

Q: What are the Desired Characteristics upon which the Superintendent selection process was based?

• The BOE utilized the extensive community and staff inputs from the prior two searches to develop the list of Desired Characteristics for a Superintendent:
  • Has strategic vision and can execute on that vision
  • Is a demonstrated champion for racial equity
  • Able to lead and manage staff to execute strategic direction and tactical initiatives
  • Has a track record of driving academic results
  • Demonstrates open and transparent communications with all stakeholders
  • Builds trust and relationships with all stakeholders 
  • Able to manage all aspects of the school district 
  • Works with BOE to ensure the financial health of the district

Q: Why was the Superintendent selection process different from the past?

• In reflecting on our past external, competitive searches, we recognize that the results were not what we expected and did not result in long term retention of previous superintendents. We knew we wanted to do things differently. 
• New York State faces a high turnover rate for superintendents, with many leaving their positions within just a few years. According to the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents, this trend is particularly pronounced in the Hudson Valley region, where competition for experienced candidates is strong. Some of the longest serving superintendents in the Hudson Valley were promoted from within the district.
• The use of national search firms is an expensive endeavor and given the expenses related to recent searches we wanted to be sure to be judicious with our taxpayer dollars.
• The research we reviewed showed that due to the challenges of attracting experienced candidates, internal appointments are increasingly common. They provide the benefits of leadership continuity, deep knowledge and relationships within existing. staff, preserved institutional memory, and reduced onboarding time—all of which made Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi an ideal candidate.
• The BOE received substantial informal feedback about Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi from the community and staff which led us to strongly consider her candidacy.

Q: Why was this process kept confidential?

• Because we focused our search on one person and our practice has been not to talk publicly about individual personnel matters, it required that our process be confidential.

Q: Why were there no other candidates?

• It was very important to the Board to recognize existing staff and prioritize promoting from within. 
• The BOE considered using an external search firm, but wanted to be judicious with taxpayer dollars.
• The BOE knew that we had been through an external search process twice and it didn’t result in a long term retention of a superintendent. We knew we wanted to learn lessons and do things differently.
• The BOE received unsolicited, informal feedback from the community & staff about Dr Ruiz-Giovinazzi. We knew we had a very strong candidate.  

Q: How has the BOE considered community and staff input? 

• Staff and community input is very valuable to us and in the searches conducted in the last 3 years, district staff and community members provided substantial input, highlighting the qualities and priorities valued in a superintendent.  This extensive input remains valid and was incorporated into our Desired Characteristics.
• The BOE arranged an interview for the Nyack Teachers’ Association leadership with Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi.

Q: What is the next step for January 2025?

• The BOE invites the community to hear about Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi’s leadership vision and participate by asking questions of their own on January 14, 2025 at 6:30pm during a Special BOE Meeting. 
• The BOE anticipates that a final announcement will be made in mid January 2025.