When I arrived in Roslyn a year ago, I wrote that it was a great honor to have been appointed as Superintendent of Schools in a district with such an excellent reputation. I know what a lot of you were probably thinking at the time: that's just the sort of thing you would expect a new superintendent to say. But now that I've spent a full year working in Roslyn, I have to say with all honesty that I was not exaggerating.

To begin, I want to thank all of the staff, students, parents and community residents for their warmth and for accepting me into the Roslyn family. I know that a change in leadership brings both excitement as well as anxiety. Your willingness to embrace change has been very encouraging. It means, as I suspected from my first day, that Roslyn is focused intently on the future of the community's children. This was perhaps most evident in the strong vote of support in May for the 2008-09 school budget, which contains many progressive initiatives that will directly benefit instruction.

When I look back on some of the year's activities and accomplishments, it's hard to believe it's only been a year. As a result of many people working together, we have:

• Begun implementation of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Program

• Designed and implemented a new Summer Academic Program for K-8 students

• Designed (and will implement this fall) a new alternative program at Roslyn High School

• Rewrote curriculum in many areas

• Implemented a professional development program in conjunction with Harvard University

• Established a new grading system for the high school

• Created an entirely new delivery system of technology district-wide

• Begun installation of a new internet protocol (IP) telephone system

• Successfully negotiated new contracts with three of our employee units

• Hired a new principal for the East Hills School

• Hired a new food services manager and business manager

• Introduced a series of monthly educational forums in conjunction with the CCPA that is open to all parents

• Completed installation of the artificial turf field at Roslyn High School

• Continued making progress on many aspects of the district's capital improvement program

In addition to this incomplete list, our faculty and students earned many accolades in 2007-08, not only in academics but also in the many opportunities we are able to provide for them in research, athletics and the arts. You can read about these numerous student and staff accomplishments on the Roslyn School District website, www.roslynschools.org, on the "Points of Pride" page.

In June, I had the distinct honor and pleasure of addressing audiences at the moving-up ceremonies for the East Hills and Harbor Hill Elementary Schools, as well as the graduation ceremonies for the Roslyn Middle School and Roslyn High School. These special occasions have given me an opportunity to reflect on the past year and on the important task we set out to accomplish each and every day on behalf of the children of Roslyn. The enthusiastic reception each of our students received as they passed these important milestones in their young lives is a testament to the extremely high value this community places on its children and their education. It is humbling for me to be a part of such an exceptional educational community, and I enter the new school year with great hope and excitement about the new paths we will blaze together.