At a special board of education meeting July 13, Dr. Robert Feirsen was appointed superintendent of Garden City Public Schools. He replaces Dr. Stephen Leitman, who officially retired July 31.

Dr. Feirsen comes to Garden City from Manhasset Public Schools, where he served as deputy superintendent. Prior to this position, he was assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

Dr. Feirsen began his extensive career in education as a teacher specializing in social studies and special education. He moved on to become assistant principal of the H.C. Crittenden Middle School in Armonk, NY and then held the position of principal at Gallow Elementary School in Levittown and at W.T. Clarke Middle School in East Meadow.

"I am thrilled to have been appointed superintendent of the Garden City Public Schools. Throughout the selection process, I was continuously impressed by the deep commitment of the board, administration, faculty and staff and community members to the education and welfare of children," Dr. Feirsen said of his new appointment. "The school district has a nationwide, well-deserved reputation for excellence and I look forward to working with everyone to continue that tradition of outstanding achievement and define our vision for the future."

Dr. Feirsen holds a BA and MA in history from SUNY Stony Brook, an MS in special education from Fordham University, a professional diploma in administration and supervision from Queens College and an Ed.D. in administration and supervision from Fordham University.

He also served as an adjunct at Adelphi University and Fordham University and has published articles in such media as National Association of Secondary Schools Principals (NASSP) Bulletin, Middle School Journal, Clearing House, Principal and School Administrators of New York State (SAANYS) Journal. He is the author of How to Get the Teaching Job You Want, a guide to the job search process in education. Dr. Feirsen has also been a presenter at Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) annual conferences, as well as the New York State Middle School Association and the New York State Reading Association annual conferences.

In recognition of his longtime advocacy of middle level education, he served as the keynote speaker at the New York State Education Department's Regional Focus Forum on Middle-Level Education in 2002. Dr. Feirsen is a life member of PTA; he has also been a Founder's Day honoree and an executive board member of Nassau District PTA.

Dr. Feirsen lives in New Hyde Park with his wife and two children.