On the move: Districts are locking in new leaders

A dozen K12 districts chose new leaders over the past week, with many educators stepping into the superintendency for the first time.

One veteran superintendent, Daniel Castagna, will take the helm of his third district in January. Castagna was appointed superintendent of Pennsylvania’s Chartiers Valley School District, having previously led the Woodland Hills and West Mifflin Area school districts. At Woodland Hills, Castagna oversaw the district’s first tax reduction in 40 years while building a record-high fund balance.

Arkansas’ West Memphis School District selected Eric Foister to become its next superintendent in December. Foister most recently served as assistant superintendent of Wynne School District and has also been an educator in Florida, Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky.

Kentucky’s Madison County Schools promoted an educator who has worked for the district since 1994. New superintendent Randy Neeley has been interim and deputy superintendent, director of pupil personnel, principal, teacher and coach.

In New York, three districts are welcoming new leaders. The North Syracuse Central School District plans to make Terry Ward its next superintendent. Ward has been superintendent of the Cato-Meridian Central School District for six years. Deputy Superintendent Adam VanDerStuyf was named superintendent of the North Salem Central School District. The Penn Yan Central School District, also in New York, has appointed Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Gregory Baker as its new superintendent.

Interim superintendent Yolanda Brown has been promoted to full-time superintendent at Petersburg City Schools in Virginia. Brown previously served as chief academic officer in Atlanta Public Schools.

In New Jersey, Berkeley Heights Public Schools chose Kim Feltre as its next leader. Feltre most recently served as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and acting superintendent of Hillsborough Township Public Schools. In the same state, Millburn Township Public Schools promoted acting superintendent Kathryn Diskin to the permanent position. Diskin previously served as Millburn’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at Middlesex Public Schools.

And in Texas, the Fabens Independent School District has selected Rogelio Segovia, its assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, as its next superintendent.

More new hires

• Richard Bergacs, North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District (New Jersey)
• Mary Johnston, Graham ISD (Texas)
• Rae Ann Patty, Gladewater ISD (Texas)

On the move: Retirements

• Rochelle Clark will retire from Decatur Public Schools #61 (Illinois) after the 2025-2026 school year.
• Cheryl Clarke will retire from Monson Public Schools (Massachusetts) on June 30.
• Heather Grumley will retire from the Garfield Re-2 School District (Colorado) at the end of the school year.
• Tom Rooney will retire from Lindsay USD (California) in January.
• Peter Smith will retire from the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District (New York) at the end of the school year.
• Marie Wiles will retire from the Guilderland Central School District (New York) at the end of the school year.