Sag Harbor School Superintendent Set To Retire

SAG HARBOR, NY — The superintendent of the Sag Harbor School District is set to retire.

Katy Graves shared her plans with the Board of Education on Tuesday and said she will retire on January 6, 2020.The board of education is scheduled to officially accept her letter of resignation for the purpose of retirement during the Monday, May 6, board meeting, the district said.

“Since 2014, when Katy Graves became our superintendent, she has consistently based her leadership decisions on what is best for children, fair for adults and what the community can sustain," said BOE President Diana Kolhoff. "On behalf of the entire Sag Harbor Board of Education, we express our sincere gratitude to our superintendent of schools for her years of diligent service and unwavering dedication to our students, our staff and our entire community.”

During her tenure as superintendent of schools, the district experienced successes, including the implementation of the district’s bond project, which included numerous safety and security measures; updated playing fields at the elementary and middle/high schools; a renovated multipurpose court and a rebuild of the Pierson auditorium; the launch and expansion of many STEAM classes and clubs throughout the district, including computer science classes and K-12 robotics clubs; the successful passing of a bond and purchase of Stella Maris, with construction currently taking place to open the Sag Harbor Learning Center for the 2019-20 school year; the expansion of shared services with surrounding school districts, including partnerships with Wainscott and Sagaponack; and the increase in wellness initiatives throughout the district in partnership with various community organizations, the district said.

Graves thanked the board of education, community and staff for their continued support during her service to the district. She added that her decision to retire would enable her to spend more time with her family.

“I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to the Board of Education and the community for allowing me to serve as your superintendent of schools. Together, along with our wonderful and dedicated staff, we have accomplished so many goals, and our children have benefited from our work as a team,” Graves said.

“It has been a remarkable journey and an honor to work with a community that cares so deeply for children and their education," she added. "I am very proud of all we have accomplished for the schools and especially for the children of this beautiful community. While I am retiring to spend more time with my own family, I will remain a friend to all in Sag Harbor. This is a wonderful community in which to live and to educate children.”

The BOE is currently engaged in reviewing the most qualified educational search firms. During the May 6 board of education meeting, "the board intends to share plans with the community to address its most important responsibility, the search for the district’s next superintendent," the district said.

All community residents are invited to attend the board meeting which will take place on Monday, May 6, starting at 7:30 p.m., in the Pierson library.