The Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District Board of Education is pleased to announce the decision to select Dr. Darcy Woodcock as the district’s new Superintendent of Schools.
Woodcock is a Central New York native with more than two decades of education experience. She is currently the Superintendent of Tully Central Schools. Pending the outcome of successful contract negotiations, she is expected to be formally appointed during the board’s regular meeting on Monday, April 21.
Superintendent Dr. Peter Smith announced his retirement plans in October and will serve the district through the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. Dr. Woodcock would begin her position with Jamesville-DeWitt on or about July 1.
The board has been working closely with OCM BOCES District Superintendent, Dr. Matthew Cook to conduct a confidential search. As part of this process, the board received survey results from almost 400 community members and conducted six focus groups to help prioritize the most desirable qualities in a new district leader. These focus groups included instructional and non-instructional staff, families/caregivers, and students.
“We want to thank all of the candidates who applied for this position, as well as Dr. Cook for guiding us through this process. After consideration of a very talented pool of candidates, we felt that Dr. Woodcock was the best candidate to lead our district,” shared Board President Joe Gross. “She is an effective leader and communicator who always prioritizes students. We believe she will bring the perfect blend of leadership and compassion to our schools.”
Prior to her time at Tully, Dr. Woodcock served as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Westhill Central School District. She also served as Director of Professional Development for Syracuse City Schools from 2019-2020 and as Principal of Liverpool Elementary School from 2012-2018. She also served as an assistant principal for OCM BOCES’ Regional Summer School at Fayetteville-Manlius High School from 2009-2011.
Her initial teaching experiences began in Florida, where she worked for three years as a primary teacher in New Port Richey. Later, after moving back to Central New York, she worked for eight years as a sixth-grade math and science teacher at Eagle Hill Middle School in the Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District.
Her educational experience includes a bachelor’s degree in elementary science education and special education from SUNY Geneseo; a master’s degree in literacy from SUNY Oswego; a Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) from SUNY Oswego; and a doctorate in Educational Administration and Leadership from the Riley College of Education and Leadership from Walden University in Minneapolis.
Dr. Woodcock grew up in Central New York and graduated from Cicero-North Syracuse High School. She says it’s a true honor to join Jamesville-DeWitt.
“I look forward to building strong relationships and earning the trust of our students, families, staff, and community. I am thrilled to become part of such an outstanding school district,” she added.
Please join the board in welcoming Dr. Woodcock to Jamesville-DeWitt!