Dr. Darcy Woodcock has been chosen by the Jamesville-Dewitt Board of Education as the new superintendent of the J-D school district. Her appointment will be on April 24, 2025. Dr. Woodcock is currently Superintendent of Tully Central School District, and has two decades of experience.
She started teaching in Florida, as a primary school teacher, then she moved to New York, where she spent the rest of her career. Here, she served as a sixth-grade math and science teacher, assistant principal, principal, a Director of Professional Development for Syracuse City Schools, and assistant superintendent in many different schools, and school districts.
To find out what type of attributes would be expected of our new superintendent, the J-D Board of Education created a focus group of 12-14 guardians that gathered to discuss these attributes in person on March 27, 2025. The J-D school district also hosted an online survey, which lasted until Feb. 5, 2025. These helped the Board of Education narrow down what candidates they should pick. Interviews with the applicants also started in February. Applications for this position were due Jan. 31, 2024.
To help with the search, the J-D school district hired OCM BOCES District Superintendent Matthew L. Cook, Ed.D. He has experience helping different school districts select a new, qualified leader. He helped implement a confidential search, rather than an open search.
A confidential search keeps the identities of applicants applying for the position hidden, with the applicants applying directly to OCM BOCES first, then OCM BOCES and the J-D Board of Education worked together to choose one of the candidates. If the J-D school district had used an open search, a superintendent or administrator from another district may not have applied, because they don’t want their district to know that they want to work for another school district.
After 28 years of serving the J-D school district, Superintendent Peter Smith announced his retirement plans on Oct. 28, 2024. He will continue to serve the J-D school district for the rest of the 2024-25 school year. The new superintendent will begin work in July to prepare for the 2025-26 school year.
When asked about the characteristics that they want to see in their new Superintendent, teachers gave many different attributes. Student Resource Officer Mike Norton said safety conscious and consistency. Hall Monitor Brian Marrero said compassion, the ability to be stern, and fairness. Science teacher Parker Noble said communication skills, pride, and honesty. Assistant Principal Maria DeJesus said the ability to have a presence in all buildings from time to time, transparency, and communication. Spanish teacher Caitlin Johnston said approachable and experienced.
Once Dr. Smith officially retires, he plans on spending time with family, and relaxing. “For fun, our family is going to Ireland for a week in July so we are very excited for that trip,” said Dr. Smith over email. He also plans on golfing, skiing, and traveling more often, with his schedule now being freed up.
Dr. Smith started as a social studies teacher at the J-D Middle School in 1997. After that he has served many roles in the district. “He has served as Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Elementary Principal, Middle School Principal, Assistant Superintendent for General Educational Services, and Superintendent of Schools in the Jamesville-DeWitt School District,” which was taken from his SUNY Oswego profile/bio. He is an adjunct professor, or a part-time professor, there. He is also a part of the New York State Council of School Superintendents and the American Association of School Administrators.
Sources:
Onondaga County school superintendent to retire – syracuse.com
Board begins interviews in Superintendent search
REMINDER: J-D Superintendent Search Survey and UPK Letter of Intent deadlines
J-D Superintendent Search: survey to gather stakeholder input available until Feb. 5
Board selects OCM BOCES consultant to help conduct confidential Superintendent search
Superintendent Search – Jamesville-Dewitt Central School District
