New Sewanhaka Superintendent Named

Dr. Ralph Ferrie will be the school district's superintendent starting this July after retires.

Ferrie has 11 years of experience as a superintendent and spent the last two years teaching at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey, he said. Ferrie noted that he has had more than 34 years of experience in the public education arena.

He began as a high school biology and chemistry teacher and has coached football, basketball and track and field. As a relatively new teacher at the time who did not have much direct experience related to track and field, Ferrie got experts for each area of track and field to help him.

After the Sewanhaka annual budget meeting on Tuesday, Ferrie noted that he is "glad to be back" in the superintendent role and that while he had "a wonderful time teaching" he missed "working with teachers, administrators and high school students."

While in a superintendent capacity, Ferrie took part in several capital improvement projects including building a new high school and two new elementary schools, he said.

Ferrie has had experience with consolidated school districts like Sewanhaka, he noted, explaining that he was a middle school principal in a district that was similar to Sewanhaka.

Once Ferrie officially assumes his post, he would like to meet people in the district and learn, he said. Ferrie is in the process of relocating.