Nyack Appoints New Schools Superintendent

NYACK, NY — The Nyack Union Free School District Board of Education appointed Clarkstown's Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Susan Yom as its next superintendent of schools at its meeting Tuesday.

She is scheduled to start March 1.

"After engaging with our school community, the Board set out to identify a results-driven leader with deep knowledge in the areas of curriculum, facilities, personnel, pupil services, and—of course—diversity, equity and inclusion," Board President Jen Marraccino said in an announcement to the community. "Ms. Yom’s experience, core values, and educational goals align with Nyack Public Schools — and both her knowledge of and enthusiasm for the work we are doing here in Nyack stood out immediately."

She'll replace James Montesano, who came back as interim in July. Montesano had retired in 2021 after 10 years as head of the Nyack district, but was asked back after the Board of Education ousted his replacement, Eudes Budhai.

SEE: Montesano Returns As Nyack's Interim Superintendent

Yom emerged from a strong field of candidates, school officials said.

The board had hired Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates to conduct a confidential search, which included focus groups of about 65 stakeholders and a community-wide survey to which over 438 people responded. Twenty candidates from 4 states applied directly for the position, and HYA recruited 23 additional candidates from three states. After a screening and interviews, HYA presented a slate to the Board of Education. The board conducted comprehensive interviews over several days, selecting Yom as its unanimous choice.

She told Patch her top priorities for the spring will be to immerse herself in all aspects of the community, begin discovering stakeholders' hopes and aspirations, and work on partnerships to benefit students.

"I will be conducting 'meet and greets' as well as spending time at every school/central office and visiting community partners," she said. "I am looking forward to meeting everyone in the community."

Yom is an experienced educator with nearly 27 years of service to public education, officials said. In Clarkstown, where she has served since 2016, Yom centered her leadership practices on designing student-centered learning environments to support the whole child. She also led the district’s strategic planning process, strengthened the K-12 curriculum, created innovative programs, implemented a robust K-12 Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program, and managed numerous grants and professional development initiatives.

"Clarkstown is a diverse and dynamic community with nearly 8,000 students," she told Patch. "Over the years, I have led many committees and meetings with an inclusive process where all stakeholder voices were integrated. I especially enjoyed leading the District’s strategic planning process, the District’s Social Emotional Learning Committee, and the COVID Reopening Committees where thousands of ideas were given and led to strategies that were put into action.

"While working in Clarkstown, I have cherished the time spent talking with stakeholders then taking their input to creatively design and implement actions that benefited all students. At Nyack/Valley Cottage, I will continue to actively listen and invite all stakeholders to be a part of the educational process."

Yom started her career as an elementary classroom teacher in the Fairfax County, VA Public School District. She then began what would become a 17-year stint at the City School District of New Rochelle as the Assistant Principal of Jefferson Elementary School before moving to New Rochelle’s central office administration. At the school and district level, Yom leveraged her considerable data and equity skills to meet district goals and lift outcomes, officials said. Over the next decade, she was promoted from Coordinator of Data Analysis, Assessment, and Accountability to Director of Research, Assessment, and Accountability and Chief Information Officer.

A graduate of the Bronx High School of Science in New York, Yom holds Master of Education Degrees from both Columbia University Teachers College and Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Smith College in Northampton, MA.

“I was attracted to Nyack Public Schools for its commitment to excellence through equity," Yom said. “My entire career is marked by an unwavering pursuit of equity for all students. I have designed educational support systems that have empowered school leaders to break down structural barriers and accelerate learning, all of which will enhance my efforts to realize the goals outlined in Nyack’s Strategic Plan for Excellence through Racial Equity—hand in hand with staff, students, families and the community.”

Board officials said they look forward to introducing Yom to the school community in the coming weeks, during which Montesano will help ensure a smooth transition.