In a letter to the community ahead of his retirement in June, Herricks Superintendent Fino Celano said the best part of his job was “watching our students grow, succeed and enjoy accomplishments in so many areas.”
In December, Celano announced his retirement at a board of education meeting. He has been in his current role since 2015 after taking over following the retirement of John Bierwirth.
“It was a very difficult decision deciding to retire at the end of the school year but it really has been my honor and privilege to serve as your superintendent over the past seven years,” Celano previously said. “My experiences at Herricks have been the highlight of my professional career and I am grateful to have been of service to this community.”
Celano’s retirement will take effect on June 30, at the end of the school year.
Before his current position, Celano served as an assistant superintendent in the Garden City public schools for 10 years. He also worked in the Roslyn school district as the assistant superintendent for human resources and the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District as principal of Grand Avenue Middle School, according to a press release.
Throughout his tenure, the district, which has about 4,000 students, has consistently been highly rated.
In the U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 list of best high schools, Herricks High School placed No. 38 in New York and No. 327 throughout the whole country among public high schools.
As a district, Herricks was ranked No. 7 on Niche.com’s list of best school districts in New York according to their most recent rankings.
Celano “spearheaded” initiatives such as the expansion of social-emotional learning programs, a 1:1 Chromebook rollout for students and the Herricks Portrait of a Graduate, according to a district statement.
The district has also made recent strides toward capital improvements including the fitness center, athletic fields and cafeteria, among others.
The Herricks Board of Education thanked Celano for his work, saying he is leaving Herricks in a better place than when he found it.
“The district has greatly benefited from the educational principles and programs that Dr. Celano has advocated,” the board said in a statement. “He has led the charge to greatly improve our facilities and our financial status, and he has fostered positive relationships in the Herricks community with students, parents, teachers, and all our amazing staff. We wish him well in retirement and in his future endeavors. We will look back fondly on his term as superintendent of our great schools and believe that he will have left us better in virtually every way.”
The board is currently conducting a search for Celan’s replacement. The district said the board is in the final stages and plans to update the community in the near future.
“It has been my honor and privilege to serve as your superintendent,” Celano said. “My experience in Herricks has been the highlight of my 44-year career as an educator. I am extremely grateful to have been of service to this wonderful community.”
