Nyack names new schools superintendent after previous leader lasted 1 year
Nyack school district has tapped Clarkstown schools administrator Susan Yom as superintendent. The appointment, made official at Tuesday night's board meeting, starts March 1, 2023.
Yom replaces Eudes Budhai, who abruptly left after just one year into a four-year contract. He officially resigned at the end of the day on June 30. The split did not appear amicable.
Yom's contract, according to the board, was for three years, through Feb. 28, 2026. Her base annual salary will be $255,000, according to district officials.
The previous school district leader, James Montesano, who retired at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year, has been serving as interim superintendent. Montesano served as Nyack's top administrator for 10 years.
The Susan Yom file
Yom has been in Clarkstown schools since 2016, most recently as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.
She led that district’s strategic planning process, implemented a K-12 Social/Emotional Learning program, and managed certain grants and professional development initiatives.
Prior to that, she worked in the New Rochelle school district. Yom had started there as an assistant principal at an elementary school. After moving to New Rochelle's central administration, she served as coordinator of data analysis, assessment, and accountability before becoming the district's director of research, assessment, and accountability and chief information officer.
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Nyack Board President Jen Marraccino said in a statement that Yom's goals and experience, and her background in diversity, equity and inclusion goals, aligned well with Nyack.
About 29% of district's 2,724 students in 2020-2021 were considered Hispanic and/or Latino and 16% were Black and African-American; 42% were considered white, according to New York State Department of Education data. About 32% of students in the district are considered economically disadvantaged.
Yom said Nyack's “commitment to excellence through equity” attracted her to the district. In a statement, Yom said she believed her background would help the district realize its goals outlined in the district's Strategic Plan for Excellence through Racial Equity.
Yom holds master's of education degrees from both Columbia University Teachers College and Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.
1 year, $200K payout
During Budhai's brief tenure, he led Nyack through high-profile incidents that saw his students targeted, well as controversy among his own staff.
Budhai was at the helm when incidents targeting Nyack athletes came to light. In February, there were reports of racist noises being made by Pearl River High School varsity basketball fans as a Black Nyack player was at the free-throw line. In May, Nyack students, including middle-schoolers, reported racist language aimed at them during track meets.
But Budhai engendered criticism from Jerrell Jones, Nyack's former varsity football coach, who said the superintendent failed to come out forcefully in his defense after he was falsely accused of uttering the N-word on a team bus. Jones, one of the few Black varsity football coaches in the region, resigned after he said no one would apologize.
Budhai's sudden departure came with a settlement: he walked away with a $205,625 lump-sum payment, minus any taxes and deductions. The district also forked over a $45,000 contribution to a 403(b) retirement annuity for the short-term superintendent.
Budhai was originally hired as superintendent in April 2021 with a base salary of $265,000.
The separation agreement between Budhai and the Nyack district, obtained by The Journal News/lohud through a state Freedom of Information Law request, cited “irreconcilable differences” between the superintendent and the school board. The document, dated June 30 and enacted July 8, also expressed a desire to resolve differences “in lieu of any litigation.”
Nancy Cutler writes about People & Policy. Follow her on Twitter at @nancyrockland.
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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Nyack names Clarkstown administrator Susan Yom as new superintendent
