Yisroel R.

After a long time without a permanent district leader, the East Ramapo School Board unanimously voted Tuesday night to appoint Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez as the district’s new Superintendent of Schools.

Dr. Torres-Rodriguez officially begins today, July 8, under a three-year contract that runs through July 2029. Her appointment gives East Ramapo a permanent superintendent after the district had been operating without one since 2024.

The vote comes after a lengthy search process, including an earlier setback this year when state-appointed monitors rejected a previous candidate backed by the Board, sending the district back into the search process before Tuesday night’s unanimous approval.

Board President Shimon Rose welcomed Dr. Torres-Rodriguez in a statement, saying the Board was proud to recommend her after an “extensive and thoughtful search process.” Rose said the Board was pleased when the state monitors approved the unanimous selection.

Dr. Torres-Rodriguez brings years of experience in education and leadership, most recently serving for eight years as Superintendent and CEO of Hartford Public Schools in Connecticut. The district served about 17,000 students across 39 schools and employed more than 3,300 staff members.

Her leadership included work to increase graduation rates, expand opportunities for student success, and introduce curriculum and programming that reflected the backgrounds of the students and families served by the district.

Rose said the Board is confident that Dr. Torres-Rodriguez’s “experience, vision, and dedication” will serve East Ramapo well as the district continues building on its strengths and creating greater opportunities for students.

“We look forward to working alongside her as we write the next chapter for our District,” Rose said, adding that the Board is excited for the future and confident that the district will continue moving forward together.