Michael Hynes Resigning as Patchogue-Medford Superintendent

Patchogue-Medford Superintendent Michael Hynes is resigning from his position, district officials announced Thursday morning.

Hynes notified the board of eduction on Tuesday that he will be resigning in July to accept the position of superintendent in another school district, according to a letter on the district's website. The Port Washington School District confirmed Thursday afternoon that Hynes is headed there.

"Our board of education was not expecting this news, as we suspect, were many of you," Patchogue-Medford Board of Education Anthony O’Brien said. "The board of education and Patchogue-Medford School District wish Dr. Hynes great success in the future. We have had a wonderful relationship with Dr. Hynes for nearly five years now and we're expecting for it to continue.

"We want you to know that the growth and success of our school district during his tenure will continue," O'Brien said. "Our mission and focus will remain on providing the best education to all of our students and fostering the growth of the whole child. Our board of education remains committed to the goals and ambitions to which we have aspired."

News of the departure of Hynes, an outspoken critic of Common Core and standardized testing, has left many local parents disappointed.

"This is truly sad!" one woman wrote on a Facebook post announcing the news. "We bought our home in the district strictly for the way he ran the district. I sincerely hope they find someone who is willing to keep up with the changes he has made and further care for our children and not be another number in a paper."

Hynes, of Sayville, is making $231,750 a year in Patchogue-Medford, in the middle of the pack among salaries for Long Island superintendents.

"We believe Dr. Hynes is a perfect fit for our district," a letter from the Port Washington Board of Education reads. "His commitment to an educational philosophy built around educating the whole child and his reputation for community engagement will build and expand upon the wonderful foundation established by Dr. Kathleen Mooney."