Herricks names new superintendent of schools

Bryan Ahrens

The Herricks Board of Education announced Wednesday the selection of the assistant superintendent for personnel in the Garden City School District as the successor to Superintendent John Bierwirth, who is retiring at the end of June.

Fino Celano, who has also served as Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in the Roslyn School District, was the unanimous choice of the Herricks Board of Education, said school board President Jim Gounaris.

“We all agreed he was the best choice.” Gounaris said.

“I am honored and absolutely delighted to have been selected as the new superintendent of the Herricks School District,” Celano added.

Gounaris said the board was impressed with both Celano’s education and background and the type of person he is.

“Besides his impressive credentials, what attracted us most were his thoughtful and genuine concerns for students and their educational needs,” he said.

“We wouldn’t have chosen him if we didn’t think he was the best fit,” he added.

Gounaris said that Celano met with students, parents and teachers last week to get feedback on the type of superintendent the district wanted.

“While all the prospective candidates were of impeccable character and ability, Dr. Celano has the intelligence, temperament and personality that the students, residents and staff members have come to expect from our school leadership team,” Gounaris said.

He said that the Board of Education plans to introduce Celano at the next public meeting on Jan. 8 when the board will vote to approve his contract as superintendent.

“I look forward to working with the Board of Education, family, staff, students and parents to continue and build upon the great tradition of excellence that makes Herricks such a special place,” Celano said.

Gounaris said he has high hopes for Celano going forward.

“We expect our new superintendent to provide the leadership necessary to have Herricks be at the pinnacle of public education, not just on Long Island but across New York State and the country,” he said. “We are confident Dr. Fino Celano is the person to propel us forward and we welcome him to the Herricks School District.”

Celano said he pursued the position of superintendent at Herricks because of the district’s high achievements.

“Herricks is a wonderful school district that has a history of high standards, innovative programs and incredible student achievement,” he said.

Celano received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Marist College in 1978, later earning his Master of Arts in Reading Education in 1985 from Manhattan College, according to a release from the Herricks School District.

He attended Hofstra University in 1990 earning his certificate of advanced study in educational administration and in 2009 received his doctor of education in educational administration and supervision from St. John’s University.

Celano’s teaching career began in 1978, when he started teaching in Poughkeepsie and later in the Bronx in 1985 when he became a teacher at Calhoun High School. He was later selected to be the assistant principal at Grand Avenue Middle School in the same district, eventually becoming principal in 1997.

He joined the Roslyn School District as Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in 2003 where he fathered staff development programs and worked closely with the district’s personnel, the release said. 

He also conducted staffing needs assessments, budget preparation, recruitment and the hiring process for professional and Civil Service staff members. His responsibilities also included participating in contract administration, labor relations and collective bargaining.

Celano is currently responsible for supervision, mentoring, and guidance to all district principals and department directors in the Garden City School District, which he joined in 2005.

“Dr. Celano’s resume is impeccable,” Gounaris said.

Bierwirth announced in May that he would retire at the conclusion of the 2014-15 school year, his 14th as superintendent of schools.

The board appointed a committee to assist in finding Bierwirth’s successor. The committee held a series of meetings with members of the school district community to determine what qualities the successor Bierwirth’s successor should possess.

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