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District Superintendent & Chief Executive Officer Search

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HFM BOCES District Superintendent & CEO Search

An invitation to apply for the position of District Superintendent & CEO

The HFM Board of Cooperative Educational Services is seeking a collaborative, regional-focused leader to build trust and unify component districts through inclusive decision-making and shared governance. The next District Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer must be a relationship-centered, student-driven, and politically savvy leader who can balance vision, collaboration and courage while deeply understanding and advancing the region. The successful candidate will continue our momentum in providing efficient, innovative programs and services in response to the needs of our component school communities.

HFM BOCES is working with the Capital Region BOCES District Superintendent to conduct a confidential search, a process that has incorporated feedback from students, faculty and staff, as well as our component superintendents.

The Board will offer a three-year contract with regionally competitive salary, commensurate with preparation, qualifications and experience, and record of the successful candidate, as well as an attractive benefits package. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will be appointed in October 2026.

About the Position
Candidate Qualifications
Application Procedures

About the Position

HFM BOCES is seeking an exceptional educational leader to serve as District Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer. 

The District Superintendent serves as the liaison between the New York State Education Department and the 15 component school districts within the HFM BOCES region. In this role, the District Superintendent supports the implementation of New York State Education Law, Board of Regents policies and the Commissioner’s Regulations while providing regional leadership and guidance to component school districts. 

As Chief Executive Officer of HFM BOCES, the District Superintendent provides leadership for regional programs, services and initiatives developed in partnership with component districts and community stakeholders. Responsibilities include supporting component districts through educational consulting, superintendent searches, regional planning and collaboration with the State Education Department on a variety of educational and operational initiatives.

Candidate Qualifications

Visionary, Strategic and Forward-Thinking. Demonstrated ability to develop and implement a clear, forward-thinking vision for regional educational services. Experience leading system-wide strategic planning with measurable outcomes. Strong understanding of the evolving role of BOCES in supporting component districts, and the ability to anticipate educational, workforce, and legislative trends and respond proactively.

Commitment to Student Success and Equity. Deep commitment to improving outcomes for all learners, including special populations and adult learners. Experience promoting equitable access to programs, services, and career pathways, and knowledge of diverse instructional models, including CTE, special education, and alternative programs.

Collaborative and Partnership-Oriented. Proven success building trust and partnerships with: Component district superintendents and boards, educators and staff, and families and community stakeholders. Skilled in shared decision-making and regional consensus-building. Possesses the ability to balance the needs of multiple districts while maintaining a cohesive vision.

Effective Communication Skills. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Transparent, approachable, and visible. Ability to clearly articulate complex issues to diverse audiences, and demonstrates a commitment to active listening and responsiveness to stakeholder concerns.

Operational and Organizational Expertise. Demonstrated experience managing complex organizations and multi-service agencies. Strong background in budget development and fiscal oversight, resource allocation and cost-efficiency, and program evaluation and continuous improvement to ensure high-quality service delivery across all BOCES offerings.

Instructional and Programmatic Experience. Strong understanding of curriculum, instruction, and assessment across multiple program areas. Demonstrates a commitment to program relevance aligned with regional workforce and higher education needs, and experience leading innovation.

Advocacy and External Relations. Effective advocate at local, regional, and state levels. Demonstrated ability to build and sustain partnerships with business and industry, higher education institutions and government and community organizations. Knowledge of New York State education policy and legislative processes.

Integrity and Ethical Decision-Making. Honest and transparent communicator who builds credibility through consistency, fairness and accountability. Is student-centered in decision-making. Demonstrates empathy and emotional intelligence. Combines approachability with the ability to make tough decisions.

Change Management and Innovation. Proven ability to lead through change with clarity and stability. Encourages innovation while maintaining operational excellence. Comfort with navigating ambiguity, complexity, and competing priorities. Ability to expand and modernize programs to meet evolving student and workforce needs.

Mentoring and Leadership Development. Possesses the ability to mentor, support, and cultivate the growth of component superintendents, particularly new superintendents as they begin their tenure in the role. The ideal candidate will support leaders in navigating the complexities of governance, community relations, fiscal responsibility and strategic planning.

Application Procedures

Candidates should send one email containing all of the following attachments by 5 p.m. on July 10, 2026:

  • Cover letter
  • Current resume
  • The completed PDF application (link)
  • Official transcripts
  • All teaching and administrative certificates
  • Three letters of recommendation

    MATERIALS SHOULD BE E-MAILED TO:

    Lauren J. Gemmill, District Superintendent
    c/o Nicole Coleman
    Capital Region BOCES
    900 Watervliet-Shaker Road
    Albany, NY 12205

    (518) 862-4901
    nicole.coleman@neric.org 

    INQUIRIES:

    Email: lauren.gemmill@neric.org
    Applicants should not contact members of the HFM BOCES Board or BOCES personnel. All inquiries must
    be directed to Lauren Gemmill.

    APPLICATION DEADLINE: 5 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026.

     

     

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