Peekskill City School District Celebrates New Administrators

At a reception on June 20, Peekskill City School District celebrated the appointment of five new District administrators. Among those being celebrated were the familiar faces of Mrs. Mary Keenan Foster, Mrs. Crystal Hernandez, Mrs. Jackie Liburd and Ms. Courtney Simon, in addition to the District’s newest employees, Mr. Randy Lichtenwalner and Mr. Adam Lodewick.

Mrs. Mary Keenan Foster has been appointed as the District’s Interim Superintendent. Foster will lead the District under the guidance of Peekskill’s current Acting Superintendent, Dr. Lorenzo Licopoli, who will move into his role as Consultant to the Interim Superintendent and Board of Education as of July 1, 2017, when Foster takes the reins of the District. Foster will serve Peekskill as an Interim Superintendent until the District finds a permanent Superintendent via a search committee, which is being established.

“I want to thank the Board of Education and Dr. Licopoli for your confidence in my ability to lead,” Foster said at the June 20 Board meeting. “I also would like to thank my team at Central Office for their support and confidence as well, and for being willing to work together as a team. Nothing is done in isolation-we all work together. I want to say that I am 100% committed, for 33 years and counting, to the Peekskill City School District, to the children and to moving us forward. Thank you all very much for the support.”

Mrs. Crystal Hernandez, the District’s current Music Department Leader, and Mrs. Jackie Liburd, Hillcrest’s current Principal, will move from their present leadership roles and begin serving the District as Elementary Assistant Principals as of July 1, 2017.

Mrs. Courtney Simon, the District’s current L.E.A.P Coordinator will take on the role of Peekskill Middle School’s newest Assistant Principal as of July 1, 2017.

“I want to thank the Board of Education for supporting the proposals for additional Assistant Principals,” Dr. Licopoli said. “Without your support, this wouldn’t have been possible, but this is something I believe will be a huge support in advancing our goals in respect to literacy and providing our educational programs for our kids.”

New to the District are Hillcrest Principal Mr. Randy Lichtenwalner and Peekskill Athletic Director Mr. Adam Lodewick. Lichtenwalner comes to Peekskill from the Bedford School District, and Mr. Lodewick joins Peekskill from the Hastings School District. Mr. Lichtenwalner’s position will begin as of July 1, 2017, while Mr. Lodewick’s official first day will be July 6, 2017.