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Robert DeLilli
named new Johnstown school district superintendent
Life-long area resident chosen for proven record as a school
leader
 June
24, 2011 – The Greater Johnstown School District Board of
Education concluded its search for a new superintendent by
appointing Robert DeLilli to the post at a special board meeting
at 4:45 pm, Thursday, June 14, at Johnstown High School. DeLilli
is currently the Superintendent of the Gloversville Enlarged
School District.
DeLilli was selected
from a pool of more than 40 candidates. The Board narrowed the
field to three finalists before deciding on DeLilli as the
district's new chief administrator. His three-year contract with
the GJSD will begin August 16, 2011. He will be paid $125,000
per year.
A graduate of
Gloversville High School, DeLilli has spent his entire
professional career as an educator in Fulton County schools. He
taught social studies at Wheelerville Union Free School in
Caroga Lake for 17 years before becoming the superintendent
there in 2003. In 2007, he was appointed superintendent in
Gloversville.
Faced with
aggressive federal and state school-improvement initiatives as
well as current fiscal challenges, DeLilli offers a consistent
administrative record to Johnstown. In both Gloversville and
Wheelerville, DeLilli’s leadership and collaborative efforts
successfully met Board of Education objectives while
establishing financial stability in the districts.
Johnstown Board of
Education President Robert Curtis said DeLilli’s experience as a
superintendent was the deciding factor in the board’s choice.
Curtis pointed to DeLilli’s extensive experience as a teacher,
union president and superintendent as critically important for
his role as negotiator with the school district’s many
bargaining units.
“He has demonstrated
his ability to successfully lead a district,” Curtis said. “He
does things the right way, and that is important to us in
Johnstown. Rob DeLilli is a gentleman. In these difficult times
when we face difficult decisions, it is important that our
employees and the community know they will be treated with
dignity and respect.”
DeLilli wrote in his
application for the Johnstown post that the leadership skill he
“believes is extremely important in the current climate is the
ability to listen and validate ideas, concerns and comments from
my constituents. That doesn't mean that everyone ‘gets their
way,’ but that the staff, parents and students feel they have a
voice in the very activity in which they have a vested
interest—education. I believe ownership of the journey breeds
success.”
He sees his role in
complying with state reform efforts as one of orchestrator,
pulling teachers, administrators and the community into the
process.
“I do not believe a
‘top down’ method will be effective in this case,” DeLilli said,
describing his approach to engage all groups affected by the
reforms. “A true collaboration must take place. The entire
school community must be kept informed and involved in the
state’s efforts to change the face of public education.”
DeLilli also serves
as the chair of the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Energy Pricing
Consortium and vice chair of the HFM Business Education
Alliance. He earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Education at
the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, and a Master’s
in Education from SUNY Albany. DeLilli earned his school
district administration certification through the Massachusetts
College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA. |
