School Board to Appoint Dr. Andrew Patrick to be the Next Superintendent of the Scarsdale Schools

(This letter was sent by the Board of Education to the Scarsdale Community on February 9, 2023)

Dear Scarsdale Community,

The Scarsdale Board of Education is thrilled to announce that it has unanimously identified Dr. Andrew Patrick to be the next Superintendent of Scarsdale Schools. The Board plans to formally appoint Dr. Patrick at its next meeting on February 13th.

“Dr. Patrick exemplifies all of the qualities identified by our community in the Leadership Profile report. Dr. Patrick leads with empathy and integrity, uses a student-centered approach to creative problem solving, and is open to reflection and learning. We are confident that Dr. Patrick’s leadership will create an inclusive environment for our students, faculty and staff, and community. After an extensive and thorough search process, Dr. Patrick inspires the full confidence of the Board and we enthusiastically welcome him into his role as the Superintendent of Scarsdale schools,” said Ms. Amber Yusuf, Board President.

Dr. Patrick, is, of course, well known to the Scarsdale community as the Interim Superintendent of Schools since May 2022. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Patrick had served as the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Leadership Development for Scarsdale Schools since 2016. Dr. Patrick has been a leader in public education as a teacher and district leader since 1998. Before coming to Scarsdale, Dr. Patrick served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Bedford, New York for eight years. Prior to his district-level leadership position, Dr. Patrick taught earth science, biology, and A.P. environmental science and served as Science Department Coordinator.

Dr. Patrick holds degrees from the University of Rochester (B.S., Biology-Geology), the University of South Carolina (M.S., Geology), Bank Street College of Education (M.Ed., Educational Leadership), and Manhattanville College (Ed.D., Educational Leadership). Dr. Patrick has published works as both a geologist and as an educational leader. Teaching and professional development are focal aspects of his practice as he provides extensive professional development, both within and outside the District. Dr. Patrick has taught graduate level courses at Bank Street College since 2018.

Hiring a new superintendent is one of the most important responsibilities of a Board of Education and we have been committed to conducting an inclusive, thoughtful, and comprehensive process to find the next Superintendent of Schools for Scarsdale. More than 65 potential candidates were considered from a diverse pool in a nationwide search. The Board conducted multiple rounds of interviews with a very strong group of sitting superintendents from excellent school districts with established records of success.

We are grateful for the widespread engagement of our community, students, parents, faculty, and staff members that helped guide the Board in this extensive process, whether through participation in focus groups, community forums, interviews, and/or the online survey. The Board would also like to extend our thanks to Ms. Deborah Raizes and Dr. Susan Guiney at Hazard Young Attea Associates (HYA) for their many hours of hard work, extensive recruitment, and professional expertise.

For a comprehensive timeline and catalog of all actions, communications, documents, and videos available with regard to this search, please visit the Superintendent Search Page.

In anticipation of his appointment, Dr. Patrick shared, “I extend my deepest gratitude to the Board of Education for putting their trust in me to lead this extraordinary school community. It is truly a privilege and a professional dream come true. To my mind, what makes leading this District so special is the combination of an exceptionally engaged student body and an extraordinary faculty and staff situated in a community deeply committed to ensuring a world-class education for its youth. The collective contribution of goodwill, energy, innovation, and resources cultivates an environment of possibility in our schools. I have been energized by our work over the past nine months, and am excited for the future we will create together.”

The Board is very excited to unanimously congratulate Dr. Patrick on his new role as Superintendent of Schools and looks forward to continuing Scarsdale’s strong tradition of excellence and innovation under his stewardship.

Sincerely,

The Board of Education