Incoming superintendent welcomed by community
When the Garden City Board of Education announced that Dr. Kusum Sinha would be the district’s new superintendent last month, it capped off an extensive search to fill in the shoes of Dr. Robert Feirsen, who had served in the role for a dozen years. Last spring, Feirsen announced in the spring his plans to move on to the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) as a director of the Institute’s Program for School Leadership and Technology. Since August, Dr. Alan Groveman had been filling the role on an interim basis. On March 13, the board officially appointed Sinha to her new position during a special meeting, where members of the community were able to officially meet the district’s new educational leader. Currently serving as the Assistant Superintendent For Human Resources And Leadership Development for the Chappaqua Central School District in Chappaqua, Sinha will step into her new role in Garden City on July 1.
Board of Education President Angela Heineman thanked the community for participating in the online survey and the community forums that guided the development of a leadership profile that, in turn, led to the selection of Sinha. She comes to the area with plenty of experience, having begun her professional career as a social worker before moving into educational administration almost 19 years ago as assistant and then director of Pupil Personnel Services for the Goshen Central School District. Since then, Sinha has worked in upper level positions in a number of other school districts including Croton-Harmon UFSD, Ramapo Central School District and Briarcliff Manor UFSD before winding up in Chappaqua. She holds numerous degrees including an Ed.D in Instructional Leadership from St. John’s University, and a MS in Clinical Social Work from Columbia University, a BS in Social Work from Dominican College of Blauvelt and an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Orange County Community College.
The board subsequently unanimously approved a contract with the new superintendent through 2021. Sinha thanked those in attendance for coming out in addition to sharing her optimism for the road ahead.
“I am honored and humbled to have been selected to lead the Garden City Public Schools and deeply appreciative of the confidence you have placed in me. I look forward to working with members of the board of education, administrative team, faculty, staff, students, and parents. It is my hope by working collaboratively and ensuring that we all are communicating, listening, and trusting, we will continue to build upon Garden City’s outstanding tradition of excellence; from the rich educational opportunities for students to the extensive arts program, the athletics, to the co-curricular programs,” she said.
Sinha’s appointment was followed by a welcome reception attended by parents, PTA and SEPTA representatives, students, teachers and administrators. The district’s new superintendent shared what she was looking forward to most when she starts on July 1.
“Honestly, it’s going to be about listening and learning, because I’ll be new and the schools are closed at that time,” she said, “The most excitement will be when the kids are here, because that’s when you see the schools really buzzing. But over the summer, there’ll be a lot of learning and to know the people and the community here. I’m looking forward to coming to Garden City.”
