RCSD superintendent job has seen lots of changes in recent years: List going back to 1841
Eleven people have served as superintendent of the Rochester City School District since 1980, with four others holding the job on an interim basis. But there has been significant turnover in the district's top job in recent years, with six different full-time superintendents serving in the role between 2008 and 2024.
The district, which serves roughly 20,000 students, has often been criticized for its spending and inconsistent student performance. Several recent superintendents have clashed with the city school board, which is elected to oversee the district, or with Rochester mayors, who have sought more control over the district's budget, which comes out of city coffers.
Here is a list of the district's leaders since 1980 and some of our reporting on their tenures.
Carmine Peluso, August 2022 to June 2024
2024: RCSD Superintendent Carmine Peluso to depart for Churchville-Chili
2023: RCSD would close 11 schools, open 5 in new proposal
2022: Peluso named permanent superintendent
Lesli Myers-Small: June 2020 to August 2022
2022: Rochester school board wants Lesli Myers-Small out as superintendent, sources say
2020: Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small begins job with deep experience of Rochester city schools
2020: Former Brockport leader Lesli Myers-Small to be named next RCSD superintendent
Terry Dade: June 2019 to May 2020
2020: RCSD accepts Terry Dade's resignation, now mulls rolling back his budget proposals
2019: Terry Dade named RCSD superintendent
Dan Lowengard (interim): February 2019 to June 2019
2019: Interim RCSD Superintendent Dan Lowengard collapses in meeting again, admitted to hospital
2018: Dan Lowengard named RCSD interim superintendent - again
Barbara Deane-Williams: August 2016 to January 2019
2019: This was Barbara Deane-Williams' vision for RCSD. Here is what actually happened.
2016: Barbara Deane-Williams is new RCSD superintendent
Linda Cimusz (interim): Jan. 8, 2016 to August 2016
Dan Lowengard (interim): Jan. 1 to Jan. 7, 2016
2016: Dan Lowengard steps down as RCSD superintendent after stroke
Bolgen Vargas: July 1, 2012, to Dec. 31, 2015, (was interim from May 11, 2011, to June 30, 2012)
Jean-Claude Brizard: Jan. 1, 2008, to May 10, 2011
William Cala (interim): April 20, 2007, to Dec. 31, 2007
Manuel Rivera: April 2003 to April 19, 2007, was interim in 2002
Clifford B. Janey: March 1995 to 2002
Loretta Johnson (interim), June 1994 to March 1995
2017: Loretta Johnson, first female RCSD leader, dies at 78
Manuel Rivera:1991 to 1994
Peter McWalters: 1986 to 1991
Laval Wilson: 1980 to 1985
Earlier RCSD Superintendents
John M. Franco: 1971-1980
Herman R. Goldberg: 1963-1971
Robert L. Springer: 1961-1963
James S. Wishart: 1961 (interim)
Howard C. Seymour: 1954-1960
James M. Spinning: 1934-1954
Herbert S. Weet: 1911-1933
Clarence F. Carroll: 1903-1911
Charles B. Gilbert: 1901-1909
Milton Noyes: 1892-1900
Alonzo L. Mabbett: 1878-1881
Sylvanus A. Ellis: 1869-1875, 1882-1892
Charles N. Simmons: 1864-1869, 1876-1878, 1881-1882
Philip H. Curtis: 1858-1861
Isaac S. Hobbie: 1856-1857
Reuben D. Jones: 1850-1856
Daniel Holbrook: 1847-1850,1857-1858,1862-1864
Belden R. McAlpine: 1846-1847
Samuel L. Selden: 1846
Isaac F. Mack: 1841-1845
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: RCSD superintendents: The list from 1841 to the present
