Interim Superintendent of Schools

At its December 1 meeting, the Board of Education named Ileana Eckert as Interim Superintendent of Schools, effective January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2023.

Eckert, who is an officer on the Rockland Community College Board of Trustees and a member of the Rockland County YMCA Board of Directors, retired as Superintendent of Schools in the North Rockland Central School District in August 2020 after a 42-year career in education. She began her career as a bilingual teacher in Peekskill, New York and Paterson, New Jersey before being hired by NRCSD, where she served as a teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, Adult Education Supervisor, Middle School Assistant Principal, Director of Secondary Education, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education, Deputy Superintendent and, ultimately, Superintendent of Schools. Eckert was the Region 3 Delegate for the State Association for Bilingual Education, the Rockland County representative in the Mid-Hudson School Study Council and a member of the Executive Committee of Section 1 Athletics and the Joint Policy Committee for the Lower Hudson Education Council. She holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Thomas Aquinas College; master’s degree from Kean College of New Jersey and a professional diploma in Educational Administration from SUNY New Paltz. Eckert has two grandchildren attending South Orangetown schools.

For the interim position, the Board of Education sought a retired superintendent to provide the District with stability and experienced leadership without creating the expectation of a long-term commitment as its search for a new superintendent proceeds.

“We are fortunate to have a strong administrative team, highly capable staff and a supportive school district community,” stated Board President Dana Stilley, Ph.D. “Mrs. Eckert is a well-respected, veteran school district leader in Rockland County and we are confident that her expertise will help guide our District through the upcoming budget development process, the launch of our Capital Improvements Bond project and the remainder of the 2022-23 school year as our Board maintains its focus on the search for a new superintendent of schools.”

Learn more about the Superintendent Search.

District Mission and Values

The mission of the South Orangetown Central School District is to elevate, engage and inspire through personalized and exceptional educational experiences that ensure all students achieve to their fullest potential. The district will utilize and distribute resources and programming that promotes integrity and fairness to ensure a district system of equity, access and opportunities for all.

Our values are:

• To challenge our students with the highest quality education
• To foster an inclusive school district community based upon respect, responsibility, equity and global citizenship
• To provide a safe and nurturing environment which prepares every student for future success