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RYE, N.Y. -- After the abrupt, unexpected resignation of Rye Superintendent of Schools Frank Alvarez on Tuesday, Rye City School District's Board of Education appointed an interim superintendent effective July 31.
According to a press statement released after Tuesday night's Rye school board meeting, Brian D. Monahan will be the school district's new interim superintendent.
Sarah Derman, a spokeswoman for Rye City School District, said there was no school board vote Tuesday on Alvarez' resignation. He'll complete the fourth year on his five-year contract on July 31, according to Derman who said that July 31 will be Monahan's first day transitioning to the new job.
Monahan began his public education career in the Yonkers Public Schools as a computer science and English teacher and for the next four decades gained a wide experience both in and out of the classroom, according to a biography provided by the Rye City School District.
Monahan has held positions as a curriculum specialist, director of Information Technology and deputy superintendent.
Monahan retired as Superintendent of Schools from the North Rockland Central School District in August 2009 after serving there for 14 years in several administrative positions.
After his retirement, Monahan spent three years at Pace University as a full-time faculty member and coordinator of the University’s graduate program in Education Leadership. In that role, Monahan helped prepare future teachers and administrators. In addition to his work at Pace, Monahan has served as an adjunct professor of English, computer science and education at Fordham, Bank Street College of Education, Westchester Community College and Iona College.
Monahan is a prolific writer and presenter, according to his biography, with more than 200 articles which have appeared in books and scholarly and popular journals.
In 2012-13, Monahan was recruited by the Hendrick Hudson School District to serve as its interim Superintendent of Schools. In the past three school years, Monahan held similar positions in the Garrison and Mahopac School Districts.
Monahan has a bachelor of arts degree in English from SUNY Albany and holds three master’s degrees -- in English Education from Iona College, Applied Linguistics from Columbia University, and Computer Science from Pace University. He has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Teaching.
Alvarez issued the following statement Tuesday, as reported earlier by Daily Voice:
"Rye has been a wonderful community in which to work. I am proud of the many accomplishments attained in the last four years. The support of the Board of Education, faculty, staff and parents enabled several new initiatives to take root and become important components of a productive school environment for all our students. I am equally appreciative of the support of the community, which led to the construction of the new Science Wing during my tenure and the passing of an override budget with an overwhelming voter majority in May 2015."
"The administrators, faculty and staff continue to make Rye a high achieving school district. Your work is valued and your dedication is an inspiration to all, " Alvarez said in his prepared statement.
"A special 'thank you' to the Parent Teacher Organizations/Parent Organizations, the Friends of the Rye City School District and the Rye Fund for Education for all you do on behalf of our students, making many educational opportunities possible during fiscally challenging times" Alvarez added. "It has been a privilege to serve the Rye community."
Rye School Board President Katy Keohane Glassberg thanked Alvarez for his service and went on to describe the path forward:
"On behalf of the Board of Education and the Rye City School District community, I want to thank Dr. Alvarez for his contributions over the past four years," she said. "Under Frank's leadership, we have undertaken wonderful educational initiatives including heightened focus on literacy and professional development districtwide; full-day Kindergarten; STEM offerings; and completion of the (High School) Science Wing. Students have flourished during his tenure and Rye continues to be one of the top-rated school districts in the country. We thank him for his dedication to our students, faculty and staff, and the community," Koehane Glassberg said.
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