New Rochelle Narrows Superintendent Search To Two Candidates

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The New Rochelle City School District Board of Education announced there are now only two finalists for the permanent superintendent position.

Current interim Superintendent Alex Marrero and the former superintendent of the Sacramento City Unified School District, Jonathan Raymond, are the last two candidates standing. Their two names were narrowed down from a pool of 56 prospective superintendents.

Once a final decision is reached, the new superintendent will begin work July 1.

In a letter Wednesday to the community, the board called for input from the public on the two finalists. Board members say they will review the survey results before making a final choice.

Prior to his time at New Rochelle schools, Marrero spent time as a principal in the Bronx, where he moved the school from a “Local Assistance Plan” rating to a “School in Good Standing” rating. While serving as assistant superintendent for the East Ramapo Central School District, he supported schools into a “Good Standing” rating and increased graduation rates.

Marrero came to New Rochelle in January 2020, when he was appointed to the position of assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. Since September 2020, he has served first as acting and then as interim superintendent.

• Alex Marrero’s full bio can be found here.
• A one-hour interview with Marrero can be found here.

Raymond’s background includes a stint as the chief accountability officer of the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System in North Carolina and as the superintendent of the Sacramento City Unified School District. Most recently, he served as president of the Stuart Foundation, which helps to fund K-12 education in California.

Raymond describes himself as author, storyteller and education practice and policy adviser. He counts his work as the executive director of the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund among the many accomplishments on his resume.

• Raymond’s full bio can be found here.
• A one-hour interview with Raymond can be found here.

After watching the videos, the public survey can be completed and submitted here.

UPDATE: The New Rochelle City School District Board of Education has extended the deadline for the community to provide comment on two final superintendent candidates to April 30 at 12 p.m.

The survey closes at noon Saturday (now extended to April 30). Final interviews with the candidates will be held on that day (now pushed back to May 3). The final decision will be made shortly after the surveys are reviewed and closing interviews are completed.