JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown Board of Education appointed a new superintendent of schools during a Board of Education Meeting held via Zoom on Monday night.
The board unanimously appointed Dr. Kevin Whitaker who will replace retiring Superintendent Dr. Bret Apthorpe.
School officals say Whitaker will officially assume his superintendent duties in Jamestown on July 1.
“I am very pleased with our selection of Dr. Whitaker as our new superintendent,” said Jamestown Board of Education President Paul Abbott. “Dr. Whitaker’s extensive qualifications and experience will be an asset to our district.”
“We had an extremely deep pool of knowledgeable, accomplished candidates ensuring that we have an exceptional superintendent to be at the helm when our district schools re-open their doors. I would like to thank my entire board for the countless hours dedicated to the selection process, and the New York Leadership Group for their experience and talent in bringing so many impressive candidates for our consideration. I would also like to thank community members for their input and patience during the superintendent search and selection process.”
Dr. Whitaker joins Jamestown Public Schools after a nearly 30-year career in education.
He began teaching in the Albany area before coming to the Rochester area to work at the middle school, high school and PK-12 levels. He has experience as a high school and middle school teacher, a department chair, staff developer and national-level consultant, assistant principal at the early middle, middle and high school levels, principal at the high school level in a high-needs district, and as an assistant superintendent.
Dr. Whitaker joins Jamestown Public Schools from the Geneva City School District, a highly diverse district of approximately 2,500 students in the Finger Lakes Region with high levels of poverty.
Dr. Whitaker earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology at Union College in Schenectady, followed by a Master of Arts in Teaching, also from Union College, a Certificate of Advance Study from SUNY Brockport and a Doctorate from the University of Rochester.
He has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 25 years and is a father to two girls: Emily, who will be a senior at St. John Fisher College and Katie, who will be a high school senior. Dr. Whitaker is in the process of moving to our area, to be followed at a later date by his family.
He is eager to immerse himself in the social and community events in Jamestown as well as to build relationships with all of the stakeholders in our city.
“I am deeply honored to have been selected as the Jamestown Public Schools superintendent,” said Dr. Whitaker. “As a new member of this community, I am eager to become a part of all of the wonderful and diverse aspects of Jamestown and of JPS.”
“Jamestown is a community with a rich athletic and music tradition. I look forward to attending and supporting all of our student activities. For many years, I have been passionate about the unique benefits of small city school districts and especially about serving all students in small city school districts. For me, this is a long-awaited opportunity to engage with the board of education, parents, students, teachers, paraprofessionals, maintenance and custodial personnel, clerical, administrators and community members as well as the diverse and unique populations, interests, supporters and successes of Jamestown. I very much look forward to building lasting relationships and serving the needs of all children.”
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