The Floral Park-Bellerose Board of Education appointed Lisa Ruiz as interim superintendent of the district Monday night.

Ruiz takes over from acting superintendent Juli Mulcahy, who was in her position for July and August following the retirement of Superintendent Kathleen Sottile. 

Ruiz’s term as interim superintendent will run from Aug. 23 through June 30, 2023. She was most recently the East Rockaway School District superintendent, a position she held for nine years. 

Prior to East Rockaway, Ruiz served seven years as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in Merrick and as the director of pupil personnel services in Levittown.

Accomplishments in her prior post include increasing the percentage of students attending college, expanding Advanced Placement and dual enrollment course offerings and managing the district through the COVID-19 pandemic, among others.

The board will conduct a superintendent search to replace Ruiz and the successful candidate will begin working in the summer of 2023.

Sottile had one more year on her contract before retiring this summer.

“The superintendent and board have mutually agreed to permit the superintendent to retire prior to the expiration of her contract,” the board said in a statement on July 7. “The Board of Education thanks the superintendent for her service and wishes her well in future endeavors.”

Board President Beth Kierez expressed her appreciation that Mulcahy spent two months helping the district.

“I want to thank Dr. Mulcahy for stepping in as our acting superintendent these past two months. FPBSD could not have moved forward without your guidance and support,” she said Monday night. 

Mulcahy was also appointed as a consultant to the interim superintendent, a position she will serve until the end of the month. 

The next Board of Education meeting for Floral Park-Bellerose will be on Monday, Sept. 12.