New chief for Hewlett-Woodmere

Dr. Ralph Marino Jr. will succeed the retiring Dr. Joyce Bisso as superintendent of the Hewlett-Woodmere School District. The announcement was made at a special Board of Education meeting on Monday.
Marino, 47, who is from upstate Horseheads, was chosen from a pool of 40 candidates who were winnowed down to seven, and then to three, in a search that began in September, conducted by Woodbury-based District Wise Search Consultants.
Scott McInnes, the school board president, said that he was grateful to the consultants for their help in finding Marino. “From the moment we made the decision to choose them to assist with our search, we were that much more sure we did the right thing,” he said. “Dr. Marino was selected to serve as the next leader of our district after an extensive and comprehensive recruitment, screening and selection process. Within a pool of highly qualified and impressive candidates, Dr. Marino emerged as the clear choice to continue the district’s mission and vision of providing all of our students with opportunities for excellence in education. We are confident that we have found the right person to take the district from great to greater.”
Bisso will step down on June 30, and Marino will start work the next day.
Marino has nearly two dozen years of educational experience. For the past nine years he has been the superintendent of the Horseheads Central School District. He was the middle and high school principal in the Hunter-Tannersville School District upstate for two years, and superintendent there for three years. Prior to that, he was the middle school assistant principal and summer school principal in the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk School District for four years. In addition to his administrative experience, he taught social studies for three years and fourth grade for two years.

Marino said that it will be an honor and privilege to serve as the next superintendent of a well-respected and high-performing district. “For the next six to 12 months, I just plan to listen,” he said. “I want to learn everything I can about the culture and the history of the school and the community, to understand what is currently happening.”
School board Trustee Jonathan Altus said he thought the choice of Marino was a positive one, and he appreciated the way the board went about the search. “He’s going to be a tremendous asset to the community,” Altus said. “I’d like to thank the board members for making sure this process was done properly and quickly. I’d also like to thank Scott McInnes for making sure that everyone’s voice was heard.”
Marino said he plans to visit Hewlett-Woodmere several more times over the next three months. “I want to maintain the smoothest transition possible,” he said. “I’d also like to arrange for my son to visit the high school before he starts classes here. I will also finish up any year-end activities and planned events at my former district.”