Pictured center is ICC’s next superintendent, Marie Digirolamo.
The Ichabod Crane CSD Board of Education selected Marie Digirolamo to be its next superintendent of schools, effective July 1, 2023. Digirolamo was unanimously appointed by the Board at its meeting on May 2, 2023.
“I am honored to be selected as the next superintendent of the Ichabod Crane Central School District. This is a wonderful school district – my siblings are graduates, my family lived here for many years, and I still have friends in the community. I look forward to working with the Board, staff, and families to provide the best education possible for our students, and to promote a strong and unified spirit of Rider Pride and community,” Digirolamo said.
Digirolamo comes to Ichabod Crane CSD from the Niskayuna Central School District in Schenectady County, where she has served since 2014, first as the director of K-12 social studies/world languages/English as a new language, and was promoted to assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in 2019. In this role, she has provided educational leadership in a school district of 4,400 students spanning eight schools.
She also served as an assistant high school principal and junior/senior high school principal at Taconic Hills CSD, summer school assistant principal at North Colonie CSD, and a grade 8-12 French teacher at North Colonie CSD. She started her teaching career in 2000 at Saint Gregory’s School for the Boys in Loudonville.
She has a bachelor’s degree in French, a master’s degree in French Education, an advanced graduate certificate in school building leadership, and an advanced graduate certificate in school district leadership, all from the University at Albany.
“Marie Digirolamo stood out among a strong pool of candidates. Her leadership skills and experience, passion for public education, and familiarity with our community make her the right leader for the future of Ichabod Crane CSD. We look forward to working with her,” said Board President Matthew Nelson.
The Ichabod Crane CSD Board of Education offered Digirolamo the position following an extensive search process, which began in January 2023 with assistance from Questar III BOCES.
The Board asked the community to provide feedback on the desired characteristics of the next superintendent and received more than 580 submissions via an online survey. Nelson said the community’s feedback was reflected in the development of a recruitment brochure and the interview questions.
The Board received 26 completed applications for the position. A stakeholder group consisting of 16 parents, staff and community members assisted the Board in interviewing four semi-finalists.
“On behalf of the Board of Education, we would like to thank our parents, staff, students, and community members for their input throughout the search process,” Nelson said.
Current ICC Superintendent Suzanne Guntlow welcomed Ms. Digirolamo to the Rider family.
“Although I will miss what has been my home away from home for the past ten years, I am happy the Board of Education chose such an experienced educator and administrator. I look forward to working together to ensure a smooth transition,” Guntlow said.