New Saugerties Central School Superintendent

SAUGERTIES – On Tuesday, May 26, the Saugerties Central School District Board of Education unanimously approved a three-year contract for the appointment of Dr. Gwendolyn Roraback, an experienced educator and administrator who has served the District in several leadership roles since 2021, as Superintendent of Schools, effective June 9. Most recently, Dr. Roraback has served as Acting and then Interim Superintendent, leading the District through a period of transition while helping to strengthen long-term planning, instructional leadership, and organizational stability.

“With 27 years of educational experience, Dr. Roraback is a student-centered educational leader with a proven record of advancing academic achievement and organizational excellence throughout Ulster County,” said Board President Jeffrey Riozzi. “More importantly, since stepping into the District’s top leadership role in September, she has demonstrated clear, decisive leadership and a mastery of navigating the District through some extremely complex matters. Her extensive leadership experience, expertise in program design, and strong record of instructional leadership will continue to benefit the students and entire Sawyer community.”

Riozzi noted that Dr. Roraback’s appointment reflects both her experience and the confidence she has earned within the District community. “In many ways, especially the past six months, every day has been a job interview, on-the-job training, and public demonstration of her leadership skills, communication abilities, and commitment to this District,” Riozzi added. “She is a known and trusted leader who understands our schools, our staff, our students, and our community.”

Dr. Roraback said she is honored and excited to continue serving the Saugerties community in this new role. “I am deeply invested in the Sawyer experience – for our students, staff, families, and community,” said Dr. Roraback. “We have spent this year focused on stabilizing the District, while building a strong foundation for long-term success. I look forward to continuing the work around our Blueprint for Excellence and its four pillars – academic excellence, family and community engagement, professional culture, and student experience.”

During her time at Saugerties, Dr. Roraback has led several important initiatives to advance teaching and learning across the District. Highlights include helping position Saugerties as one of only 23 school districts in New York State selected to participate in the PLAN Pilot Program, an innovative statewide initiative focused on performance-based learning and assessment practices. She has also led efforts to align the District’s literacy programming with the Science of Reading framework.

In addition, Dr. Roraback has focused on building teacher and administrative capacity to facilitate adult professional learning. She created the District’s “3 E’s” Microcredential program – Engagement, Equity, and Empowerment – which provides educators with opportunities to earn 35 Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) or in-service hours through coursework, book studies, and applied learning experiences.

“There is tremendous talent within Saugerties, and my goal is to build capacity so every student and staff member can become their best Sawyer-self,” said Dr. Roraback. “When we invest in people, nurture relationships, and support growth, we create the best possible student and staff experience.”

Before joining Saugerties, Dr. Roraback served in several leadership roles at Ulster BOCES, including Director of Instructional Services. During her tenure, she helped lead countywide instructional initiatives and developed a new administrators program that continues to support educational leaders across the region today.

“Dr. Roraback’s background and experience will be an asset to Saugerties as New York State moves forward with major educational transformation through NY Inspires and the Portrait of a Graduate initiative,” said Riozzi.

Looking ahead, Dr. Roraback said she believes Saugerties is uniquely positioned to lead educational innovation across New York State.
“This is a very exciting time in education,” she said. “Through the PLAN Pilot and the work already happening in our schools, Saugerties has an opportunity to truly plant its flag as a statewide leader in project-based learning, alternative assessments, and student portfolios. I believe we can become a beacon of excellence not only for our students, but for public education across the region and state.”