POUGHKEEPSIE – The City of Poughkeepsie School District Board of Education named a new superintendent Monday evening. Dr. Eric Rosser of Buffalo has been selected from a pool of 25 candidates from which the board had to choose. The vote among board members was unanimous.
School Board President Dr. Felicia Watson said the district has been without a permanent superintendent for some time and the appointment of Rosser will provide for an orderly operation of the district.
“We have been operating in a band-aid affect and now with leadership, we can operate in a very systematic, comprehensive way and to drive processes forward, so we are excited about that,” she Watson said.
Rosser currently serves as associate superintendent for Student Support in the Buffalo School District and will take the reins in Poughkeepsie on August 5th.
The contract, worth a gross annual salary of $205,000, expires on August 4, 2022. Dr. Rosser will act as an independent consultant to the Poughkeepsie district from July 15th through August 4th at a per diem rate of $854.
The Buffalo Board of Education will meet on Wednesday to accept Rosser’s resignation effective August 3rd.
Rosser had served in that position for four years. Prior to Buffalo, Rosser served as executive vice-president for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chesapeake in Maryland where, according to his resume, he “partnered with school districts to increase positive school outcomes for youth.”
Rosser’s employment in the public school system includes having served as deputy assistant superintendent for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in Washington, DC. In that position, he managed the operations of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. Rosser also spent five years working for the Atlanta Public Schools as assistant superintendent of Instructional Operations.
Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison was pleased with the announcement. “We greatly look forward to working with Dr. Eric Rosser, the incoming superintendent of the Poughkeepsie City School District, and congratulate the school board on completing its search to fill this immensely important position in the community,” Rolison said. “The fortunes of the city and the school district are inextricably linked, and the city is grateful for the positive dialogue that has emerged as the school district conducted its search for a new leader.”
Dr. Watson indicated that Rosser will attend the Poughkeepsie school board meeting on July 24th to meet district staff, students, families and the community.
Buffalo School Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash said he has “great sorrow and great pride” to see Rosser leave his district.
“It was my intention and expectation from the start that the reform work in Buffalo would prepare our executive level Cabinet members to grow their district superintendent leadership skills,” Cash said, pointing out that last year, Dr. David Mauricio was selected to lead the Peekskill school district.
“High quality education for all children is our aim, and we intend to grow excellent superintendent candidates to further this aim,” Cash said. “And so, Dr. Rosser will take his Buffalo honed skills with him as a basis for the fabulous work he will perform in Poughkeepsie.”
