Grand Island Board of Education: Lawrence named superintendent of schools

by Kathleen Duff

At a joint evening meeting with the Town Board April 29, the Grand Island Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution naming Dr. Teresa Lawrence as its choice for the position of superintendent of schools. The district has been led by Interim Superintendent Paul Hashem since mid-January.

Lawrence has been director of curriculum and staff development for Clarence Central Schools for the past eight years and has worked as an educational consultant, assistant principal and middle school math teacher. She also is an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Education at the State University at Buffalo, Stony Brook University and Canisius College. She has four degrees from UB, has completed programs at Cornell University and has been educated abroad.

In his announcement, board Vice President Paul Krull said, "The Board of Education and community see Teresa as being able to face challenges head-on. She will use her experience and demonstrated leadership to create opportunities from challenges and cultivate untapped potential to help address pressing needs. Teresa and the Board of Education share a common goal which is to continue moving Grand Island forward."

Lawrence has signed a three-year commitment to the Grand Island School District and is expected to be seated in her new position on or about June 10. The district has been without a permanent chief since the retirement of Robert Christmann in October of 2012. The board hired the Warner Group out of the University of Rochester to help determine what qualities the district and community wanted in a new superintendent. After many weeks of focus groups, gathering of resumes and rounds of interviews, the search recently narrowed to two final candidates.

In brief remarks to those attending Monday night's meeting, Lawrence termed her selection an "honor and a privilege" and her commitment to serve with "integrity, passion and a shared vision."

The next meeting of the Grand Island Board of Education will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 13.

The 2013-14 budget vote is Tuesday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the high school gym. The annual tenure and retiree reception is Monday, June 10.

Board of Education Trustees

• Vice President: Paul Krull
• Trustees: Glenn Bobeck, Tak Nobumoto, Joan Droit, Donna Tomkins, Emily Ciraolo
• Interim Superintendent: Paul Hashem
• District Clerk: Janet Schuster

Send comments to the board at [email protected].