The search for the Rochester City School District’s next superintendent has been narrowed down to four finalists, all of whom currently hold leadership positions at school districts in the south.

Who Are They?

Terry Dade

  • From Falls Church, Virginia
  • Current Assistant Superintendent in Fairfax County Public Schools
  • Previously served one year as an executive principal and four years as an elementary school principal
  • Former public school teacher

Devon Horton

  • From Louisville, Kentucky
  • Current Chief of Schools in Jefferson County Public Schools
  • Previously served as Deputy Superintendent of Schools in the East St. Louis School District 189
  • 10 years experience in Chicago public schools

Sito Narcisse

  • From Nashville, Tennessee
  • Current Chief of Schools for Metro Nashville Public Schools
  • Previously served three years as Associate Superintendent at Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland.
  • Former Acting Chief School Improvement Officer

Eric Thomas

  • From Atlanta, Georgia
  • Current Chief Turnaround Officer for the Georgia State Board of Education
  • Previously served five years as Chief Support Officer at the University of Virginia Darden
  • Former part-time consultant for the Ohio Department of Education

Meet Them For Yourself

The public will have a chance to meet and learn more about the finalists at upcoming forums at the Freddie Thomas Learning Center on Scio Street. At the events, candidates will answer questions submitted online by community members.

Two candidates will attend the first meeting on Saturday, May 4 at 12:30 p.m. and the other two candidates will be in attendance on Sunday, May 5 at 12:30 p.m.

Anyone who cannot attend the sessions will be able to watch it live on the district's website or RCTV Channel 1301 on Spectrum Cable. 

The Board of Education's announcement about finalists comes just one day after Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren called out the district for failing students.

During Warren's State of the City address on Tuesday, she compared the embattled school district to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan and highlighted the need for more community schools which have proven successful.

The school district has been led by Interim Superintendent Dan Lowengard since former Superintendent Barbara Deane-Williams retired in January after two years.