Clarkstown Appoints New School Superintendent

Martin D. Cox will be the next superintendent of the Clarkstown schools, the Board of Education announced Thursday night.

Cox was chosen from among the three finalists who visited the district last month:

• Dr. Douglas S. Adams, Superintendent, Ramapo Central School District
• Mr. Martin D. Cox, Superintendent, Sodus Central School District
• Dr. Jeffrey R. Rabey, Superintendent, Depew Union Free School District

He will start July 1.

Here’s the letter to the community from the school board:

Dear Clarkstown Community Members,

On behalf of the Board of Education, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Martin D. Cox to serve as the Clarkstown Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1, 2016, for a term of four years at an annual salary of $235,000. After a nationwide search, the Board of Education approved the appointment at our meeting this evening, by unanimous vote.

As a candidate for the position, Mr. Cox was introduced to our community at public forums this January where his depth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for education and student learning were clearly demonstrated. Our multiple interviews, site visit and other due diligence confirmed our belief that he is the right leader for Clarkstown schools.

The Board is grateful to the Clarkstown community for your engagement in the extensive search process. More than 1100 people participated in the survey to identify the characteristics desired in a new leader. Many of you volunteered to serve on focus groups and interview committees, and hundreds attended or viewed the public forums held by finalists. Our principals, teachers and students served as gracious hosts for candidate visits to schools throughout our district, and the Board was gratified by your numerous calls and emails to share your opinions.

Mr. Cox demonstrated his abilities as an inspiring leader as well as an effective communicator. He shared his vision of giving each child the tools he or she needs to fulfill their dreams and his desire to lead by empowering others to be their very best. These characteristics will benefit all stakeholders in the district; staff, teachers, students and parents. His obvious high energy and constant search to learn new things will serve as a model for our students.

Mr. Cox has twenty-seven years of experience in the education field, more than a decade serving in leadership roles. He is currently the superintendent of the Sodus Central School District, a position he has held since 2012, and was superintendent of Fillmore Central School District. Prior to that appointment, he honed his leadership skills in the roles of elementary and high school principal. He began his career as a primary grade teacher.

Mr. Cox is currently pursuing his doctorate in Educational Leadership. He holds a Certificate of Advance Studies from SUNY Brockport; a Masters in Elementary Education from Nazareth College of Rochester, and a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Ohio University.

In addition to his love of education, he believes a community must work together to ensure the overall wellness of each child. He demonstrates that belief through his personal engagement in a variety of sports including marathon running, kayaking, swimming, cycling and participation in triathlons.

I am pleased to share that Mr. Cox and his wife Mary Beth, a registered nurse, will be relocating to live within the Clarkstown Central School District and look forward to the opportunity to become members of our local community. They have three children, Hillary, 24, a law student, Kevin 21, a college senior and Abby, 19, a college sophomore.

I hope you will join the Board in extending a warm welcome to Mr. Cox and his family, as together we strive for excellence in education for the children of Clarkstown.

Sincerely,

Mike Aglialoro President Board of Education