Sewanhaka Central High School District Superintendent Dr. John Williams announced his resignation at a recent meeting of the board of education. Dr. Williams will stay on until August 31, 2006 and then step down from the district he has headed for the past two years.

Dr. Williams was named superintendent by the Sewanhaka Board of Education two years ago. He arrived from Scranton, PA, where he served as superintendent, to succeed Dr. George Goldstein, the longtime superintendent of the district.

Now, the Sewanhaka Board has to find its next superintendent, as Dr. Williams resigned, he said, to pursue other opportunities in a K-12 school district and teaching and administration in higher education.

Dr. Williams will remain with the district through the summer so that the board has time to do a full search for a new superintendent and to help ensure a smooth transition for the next superintendent of schools.

In a statement, Dr. Williams said, "I have truly enjoyed my work overseeing the learning and activities of the nearly 8,600 students who attend school here and administering the work of this dynamic organization of 1,200 staff members. The recent passage of the $134 million budget is evidence of the hard work of the board and strong community support we are enjoying in the Sewanhaka Central High School District presently. This leaves our district in a strong financial position to face the next and future years."

Among the accomplishments of the district the last two years, according to Dr. Williams, is obtaining Adequate Yearly Progress status in all five schools when four of the five were on the "watch list" last year.

But Dr. Williams said perhaps the most significant accomplishment has been to put into place a sound process to recruit, hire and train some of the most outstanding administrators and teachers in the country, many of whom will also fall in love with Sewanhaka.

The board of education that will name the new superintendent will change when the district reorganizes next month. At least three members of the eight-member board will change. Joy Madera of Elmont decided not to run for re-election in May, meaning the Elmont School Board will have to pick a representative to the Sewanhaka Board. Dr. Roger Roess of Franklin Square is retiring so the Franklin Square School Board will have to send another representative to Sewanhaka and Louis Zacarese resigned from the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School Board so that board will have to send another member up to Sewanhaka. That new member could be former Sewanhaka Board President Marty Cernese, who rejoined the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School Board.