Marlboro names new superintendent

By Mark Reynolds
Posted 7/12/22

Last week the Marlboro school board appointed Michael Rydell as the new Superintendent of Schools replacing Michael Brooks who is retiring in August after a career of more than 33 years education.

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Marlboro names new superintendent

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Last week the Marlboro school board appointed Michael Rydell as the new Superintendent of Schools replacing Michael Brooks who is retiring in August after a career of more than 33 years education.

Brooks had the honor of welcoming Rydell to the district.
“Michael has his professional certification as a school district leader and he has also been a high school principal, an assistant superintendent and a superintendent. He also has certification as a school administrator and supervisor and also has permanent certification as a biology teacher for 7-12 grades. He holds an undergraduate degree from SUNY New Paltz with BA in Biology and graduate degrees with a Masters in Secondary Education and a Masters in School Administration, both from Mercy College.

Rydell thanked the Board of Education and community members who participated in the selection process.

“It was really great to feel the passion and the commitment that exists in this community for providing the absolute best for the students,” he said.

Rydell explained his feelings about the selection process.
“I think the word that best describes how I felt was inspired; inspired by the expectation that this district continues to provide a top-notch educational experience for all students; inspired by the expectation that great things are happening in this district and that they should continue, while also demanding that we collectively seek out and deliver continuous improvement in our schools. I am truly honored and humbled that I was selected to be a part of this. I have been fortunate to work with and learn from really outstanding faculty, staff and administrators throughout my career as a science teacher, a principal and most recently as the Superintendent of the Port Jervis school district. Prior to that, I was in the Wallkill Central School District.”

Rydell described a life-long connection that began early in his career.

“One of the first influential people that I encountered in my educational career was actually Mr. Brooks. Back in the mid 1990s I was a student teacher in the Washingtonville Middle School and Mr. Brooks was my co-operating teacher. It’s been a pleasure to call Mr Brooks a colleague and now it’s certainly an honor to be appointed to succeed him as Superintendent of Schools. I certainly don’t view this as trying to fill the very large shoes of a great educational leader and quite frankly as a person. It’s absolutely my pleasure to work with Mr. Brooks and the learning community throughout this summer to set the platform for a very smooth transition as Mike hands off the baton.”

Rydell recognized the presence in the audience of his wife Jennifer, an art teacher in the Cornwall school district, and their three daughters Ella, Lila and Cassie.

“Thank you very much for this opportunity and thank you for having the confidence in me; the responsibility and the expectations are not lost on me,” he said. “Collectively we are going to do great things.”

The school board unanimously appointed Rydell effective September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2025 at an annual salary of $220,000 (pro-rated for the 2022-23 school year).