New District 13 superintendent brings 38 years experience

Although the appointment of District 13’s new superintendent of schools was listed on the fifth page of the meeting agenda, the Board of Education decided to make it the first order of business on April 27. Board members unanimously approved Dr. Adrienne Robb-Fund as the new superintendent, and she will take over for Dr. Elizabeth Lison, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

For the past six years, Robb-Fund has been the assistant superintendent for elementary education in the Commack School District in Suffolk County. She has worked in education for 38 years and has been a special education teacher, a reading specialist, kindergarten director and an assistant principal.

Her appointment ends a months-long search for a new superintendent that began in late September, when Lison announced her retirement. The board interviewed four candidates for the position — out of 65 who applied — and chose Robb-Fund.

“She has a tremendous background,” said board President Frank Chiachiere, citing Robb-Fund’s broad knowledge of curriculum. “We had four really good candidates. She was the whole package.”

Robb-Fund will have a three-year contract, and will be paid $195,000 in her first year.

A graduate of Farmingdale High School, she taught for nine years in Massachusetts before moving back to Long Island. During her time there she was a reading specialist in Hingham. She later became the director of reading for the Wantagh School District.

“She is so embedded in literacy and reading and language,” Chiachiere said. “That really put her over the top. Kids have to know how to read if they’re going to be successful.”