Brewster School Superintendent Announces Retirement

from the Brewster school district

BREWSTER, NY — Dr. Laurie Bandlow, Superintendent of the Brewster Central School District,
will retire at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

"It is with a very heavy heart that I share with you my intent to retire at the end of the 2023-2024
school year," she said in a note to the community. "Serving as your school superintendent over the last several years has been a great honor. The Brewster community will forever be in my heart."

Dr. Bandlow’s retirement announcement was unexpected.

After her mother passed away last September, she realized that it would not be long before she would be needed to care for her aging father. Giving notice a year in advance allows the Brewster Board of Education plenty of time to select a successor, and allows opportunities for her to assist with the transition to new leadership.

“Dr. Bandlow has served our school community with dedication, foresight, and care during her tenure," said School Board President Kerry Cunningham. "Her implementation of the Vision 2026 Plan has chartered a course for the district going forward that will strengthen and enhance our students’ learning experiences and the performance of our district as a whole. The school board has been fortunate to work closely with Dr. Bandlow and we will miss her caring demeanor, thoughtful actions, and fierce advocacy for our students and staff."

Dr. Bandlow has served as Brewster’s superintendent since 2019. Taking office just a few months before the pandemic, she led the schools through uncharted territory, transitioning from in-person learning to online learning, to a hybrid model that combined in-person with online, and back again. She views her role as a trust builder among all members of the school community, a responsibility she takes to heart. Her accomplishments include developing Vision 2026, a comprehensive strategic plan with broad community buy-in, expanding communication initiatives, and fostering professional development partnerships with Manhattanville College.

Most recently, Dr. Bandlow led the district in connection with the capital improvement plan recently approved by the community.

Asked about how she feels about finishing a 38-year career as an educator, she stated "When I leave Brewster, I know it will be in a good place. I’m staying for a year to finish what I started. Our students are succeeding, our staff goes above and beyond, and our community continues to provide support. Our future looks very bright!"

Her trademark sign-off continues to be "GO BEARS!"