Clarkstown School Administrator Leaving For Brewster District

The Clarkstown Central School District is losing another top administrator, this time to the Brewster Central School District. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Valerie Henning-Piedmonte is leaving Clarkstown at the end of this school year. Her resignation has not been officially announced by the Clarkstown district although the Brewster district released news of her hiring last week.  

"It is a different position from my existing one and I am fortunate to have this opportunity," wrote Henning-Piedmonte in a email. "Brewster like Clarkstown is a  wonderful district. Clarkstown is filled with outstanding professionals and I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with them. I look forward to joining my new team in Brewster."

Henning-Piedmonte, who has been in charge of Clarkstown's instruction and professional development, will become the assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment. She joined the Clarkstown District on September 11, 2006 when she was hired as director of instruction and professional development, K-12. Henning-Piedmonte was appointed in 2009 to her current position.

Bewster's Superintendent Dr. Jane Sandbank and School Board President Dr. Stephen Jambor said the postion being filled by Henning-Piedmonte provides the "missing link" between buildings, which often operate independent of one another. Officials are hoping to provide a "coordinated, articulated K-12 systemic program," and plan to have Henning-Piedmonte "lead the charge." 

Henning-Piedmonte is the fifth top administrator to depart from the Clarkstown district within less than a two year time span.

The first resignation came from Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Dr. Deborah Leh who left in July 2011 for the the superintendent's position in the Wheatland-Chili School District near Rochester. Two months later, Director of Business Alita McCoy Zuber accepted the post of assistant superintendent for business with the Ossining School District. In December 2011 the deputy superintendent, joined the Croton Harmon School District as assistant superintendent. There have not been appointments made to those positions with the same titles. 

Dr. J. Thomas Morton was hired as superintendent and started in July 2012. Superintendent Dr. Margaret Keller-Cogan left the Clarkstown district in June 2012 for a position with a Buffalo area school.