New Superintendent Appointed At Cold Spring Harbor School District

COLD SPRING HARBOR, NY — Joseph Monastero was unanimously approved as the Cold Spring Harbor School District's next superintendent at a board of education meeting on Monday. Monastero is set to assume the role on July 1.

"Joe’s deep understanding of Cold Spring Harbor Schools and our traditions and his commitment to excellence were paramount in our selection of Joe as our next superintendent of schools," Cold Spring Harbor Board of Education President Alex Whelehan said in a news release. "We look forward to seeing our district continue to thrive and excel under his leadership."

One of the most important responsibilities of a board of education is the selection of a superintendent of schools, the school district stated. Before Monastero’s appointment, the board, in conjunction with Western Suffolk BOCES, conducted an extensive search. The search process included meeting with the community and conducting a community survey to ensure the opinions of the community were taken into consideration throughout the process.

"I would like to thank the board of education for their confidence in my ability to serve as superintendent of schools," Monastero stated. "I am enthusiastic about bringing my vision, experience and dedication to my new role as we move forward together toward unprecedented levels of educational excellence for our students along with ongoing community involvement. As a life-long learner, my commitment to personal and professional growth has equipped me with the insights and adaptability to successfully navigate the complexities of a modern educational environment."

Monastero has been with the Cold Spring Harbor Central School District since 1998. He has been serving the district as executive director for instructional and administrative technology since 2017. Prior to that, he served as Cold Spring Harbor Jr./Sr. High School Assistant Principal, technology coordinator and social studies teacher at Cold Spring Harbor Jr./Sr. High School.

Monastero earned a bachelor of science in economics, a master of arts in liberal studies, a School District Administration Certificate and a Certificate in Educational Computing from Stony Brook University.