NECSD's Dr. Roberto Padilla Named NYS Superintendent of the Year

Newburgh Enlarged City School District Superintendent Dr. Roberto Padilla
 Named 2021 New York State School Superintendent of the Year

Newburgh, NY – Dr. Roberto Padilla, Superintendent for the Newburgh Enlarged City School District has been named the 2021 New York State Superintendent of the Year by the New York State Council of School Superintendents (The Council).

“This is a phenomenal achievement for Newburgh,” said Dr. Roberto Padilla. He added “Over the last seven years, we have had the NYS Teacher of the Year and the National CTE Teacher of the Year. From the moment I stepped foot in the district, it was abundantly clear, we have exceptional talent here! We are honored and humbled by this prestigious award. This recognition is the result of a very dedicated and committed district. It truly takes a team to achieve success and I am excited that this is just the beginning.”

Council President and Palmyra-Macedon Superintendent Dr. Robert Ike said, “Selection as the New York State Superintendent of the Year is a testament to Dr. Padilla's unwavering commitment to students. As a champion for equity and access, Dr. Padilla's leadership is a model for leaders across the New York State.”

Board President for the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, Ms. Carole Mineo said, "Especially during such a scary and unpredictable time in our lives, this award brings joy and hope to the people of our city and towns. Our district is often overlooked for notable achievements. I am thrilled that Dr. Padilla has been recognized, joining some of our exceptional educators earning a statewide recognition and being nominated on a national level."

Dr. Roberto Padilla is the proud Superintendent for the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, located 60 north miles of New York City. Dr. Padilla is a teacher who just happens to be a superintendent. He is nationally recognized as a champion for all children. In 2019, Dr. Padilla was selected as one of Education Week’s National Leaders to Learn From for his visionary leadership on equity and inclusive excellence. 

The award is part of AASA, The School Superintendents Association’s National Superintendent of the year award, which was established in 1988. Dr. Roberto Padilla is the first Superintendent to win this award from Orange County and from the upper mid-Hudson region. The announcement was made official at the November 10, 2020 Board of Education meeting.

There are several key initiatives that continue to propel Newburgh to new heights. They include, but are not limited to, hiring a Chief Equity Officer, ensuring all 12,000 scholars receive breakfast and lunch at no cost regardless of their zip code and socioeconomic status, and starting two additional high school campuses: NFA West and NFA Noche (evening high school), where scholars receive more personalized learning and opportunities to take more advanced courses and catch up if they fall behind. 

Additionally, Dr. Padilla is committed to ensuring all scholars enter Pre-K prepared to learn at the same level as their peers by bringing the Boston Basics to Newburgh, which is implemented in the local hospital neonatal department for new mothers, at our local library, and through community partnerships.

In May 2019, voters in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District passed a $257M bond referendum, the largest in New York State, which focuses on improvements to each school building as well as building a state of the art facility for the 23 Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs currently offered in the district. The new facility will give scholars an opportunity to explore career paths as well as earn required hours and experience to be ready for college and career upon graduation. 

Newburgh also has the largest Energy Performance Contract for school districts in New York State. This $29 million project was at no cost to the taxpayers, will provide an annual savings of $1.3M in energy costs and reduce greenhouse gases by 60%.  

Dr. Padilla leads a district of approximately 2,000 employees, 1100 teachers, 12,000 scholars, 14 school buildings spread throughout four municipalities and manages a operating budget of $287 million. Dr. Padilla holds a doctorate in Education with a focus on Urban School Leadership. He was previously a teacher and principal for the NYC Department of Education, a member of Harvard University’s Principal’s Advisory Board, an Education Policy Fellow at Columbia University, a fellow for the Broad Center at the Yale School of Management, and a Deeper Learning Equity Fellow. He is a published author and an adjunct professor at SUNY New Paltz and Fordham University. Dr. Padilla is a graduate of SUNY Brockport and holds two Master's degrees and a Doctorate from Fordham University's Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Padilla is a member of the Board of Trustees for Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital as well as the Newburgh Armory Unity Center. He is the founding President of the New York Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (NYSALAS), and a member of the Greater Newburgh Rotary Club. 

Dr. Padilla is New York’s nominee for consideration as the National Superintendent of the Year to be awarded at the National Conference on Education of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) held February 17-18, 2021. Dr. Padilla will also be recognized at The Council’s 2021 Winter Institute and Lobby Day, March 7-9, 2021 in Albany, NY as New York State’s Superintendent of the Year. The Council has not yet determined if the Winter Institute will be in-person, hybrid or virtual and will depend on decisions made at the state level as related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Council Executive Director Dr. Charles Dedrick said, “Roberto Padilla is respected statewide as an educational leader and always exemplifies the best of our profession. Dr. Padilla is a thoughtful and informed leader providing keen insight on key issues affecting our state. He understands how important superintendent leadership is to a school district’s success to provide students with a comprehensive educational experience.”

Under Dr. Padilla’s leadership, together with educators and community members, the Newburgh Enlarged City School District has established programs and served scholars through a variety of initiatives that you can read more about here:

2017-2018 Accomplishments Report

2018-2019 Accomplishments Report

2019-2020 Accomplishments Report

More about The New York State Council of School Superintendents:

The New York State Council of School Superintendents is a professional and advocacy organization with over a century of service to school superintendents and assistant superintendents in New York State. The Council provides more than 875 members with numerous professional development opportunities, publications and personal services while advocating for public education and the superintendency.

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!