New Assistant Superintendent For Students

Patricia McCauley Desiderio has been named Southampton Union Free School District’s new assistant superintendent for student services.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Desiderio to the Southampton family,” said Superintendent Dr. Nicholas Dyno. “Her professional experience is quite impressive, and we are certain she is a perfect fit for this position.”

Since 2006, Desiderio, a Hampton Bays resident, has served as the director of pupil personnel services in the Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District.

She began her career as a secondary education teacher at Lowell High School in Bayside. After five years, she was hired as assistant director of family support services at AHRC Nassau, a Brookville-based nonprofit supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. During her six-year tenure there, she directed all family support services and ran a residential summer camp.

In 1996, she successfully implemented a Head Start after-school program at the Herbert G. Birch School in Washington Heights. In 2000, she was appointed principal of the Bronx Children Center School, and two years later, a New York State Improvement Grant team leader with the New York State Education Department with offices in Eastern Suffolk BOCES. She then served as the principal of the Child Development Center of the Hamptons Charter School in East Hampton from 2004 to 2006, where she developed a building-wide co-teaching model.

Desiderio holds a bachelor of science degree in general education and special education from Buffalo State College, a master of science in special education from Queens College, and certifications in district administration, building administration, permanent teaching, and special education permanent teaching.

“I’m excited to share my wealth of experience and lifelong-learner perspective as the new assistant superintendent for student services at Southampton Schools,” Desiderio said.

desiree@indyeastend.com