Pelham Board Appoints Search Firm to Recruit Superintendent

From Pelham Public Schools:The Pelham Board of Education on Tuesday, March 28 appointed the professional search firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates to assist the District with the recruitment of candidates for superintendent of schools.

The Board selected the firm, which also worked on the 2012 superintendent search, after interviewing three separate search firms earlier in March. The District will once again work with John Chambers and Deborah Raizes, who both participated in the hiring of current Superintendent Dr. Peter Giarrizzo. Dr. Giarrizzo announced in February that he will resign from the District effective Aug. 16 and take a position as superintendent at the North Shore Central School District on Long Island.

“Over the past four years the District, under Dr. Giarrizzo’s leadership, has made great strides and it is important that we continue that work in the next administration,” said Board of Education Vice President Madeline Smith. “We have great confidence in Deborah and John and are looking forward to another successful partnership.”

Both Ms. Raizes and Mr. Chambers are experienced in public education and superintendent searches, specifically in Westchester County.

Ms. Raizes, a senior associate at HYA since 1997, is a past president of the Scarsdale Board of Education. She has served as chair and president of the Wesctchester Community College Foundation and is also chair of the Lesley University Board of Trustees. She has also been a chair and past president of the Westchester-Putnam School Board Association.

Mr. Chambers has been a senior associate at HYA since 2008. He previously had a long career in public education, serving as superintendent for the Byram Hills and Bronxville school districts as well as principal of John Jay High School in Cross River.

The Board has begun working with Ms. Raizes and Mr. Chambers to plan the next steps and will then share more details about the search process with the community. It is anticipated that the process will include a community survey and multiple opportunities for the public to comment on their priorities for the next superintendent. Updates on the superintendent search will also be shared at each Board of Education meeting.

Board of Education President Marianne Gilland noted that Hazard, Young & Attea’s previous work in the District will be an asset during the search process.

“We are very excited to once again be working with HYA,” Mrs. Gilland said. “John and Deborah’s familiarity with our community and the firm’s attention to detail will be essential in helping us recruit not only highly-qualified candidates, but ultimately one that is the right match for Pelham.”

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