New Rye School Boss is Insider Dr. Patricia Murray
The Rye City School District has a new boss. The Board of Education started with 58 candidates, narrowed the field to six, and on Tuesday night the Board announced Dr. Patricia (Tricia) Murray will become the next Superintendent of Rye City Schools. Murray will replace Dr. Eric Byrne, who announced his impending retirement last October.
Murray joined as Rye’s Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in 2021 and brings 24 years in public education to her role.
“Dr. Murray is known as a strong curriculum leader who builds respectful and productive relationships in a collaborative, professional, and compassionate way,” said Jane Anderson, Board of Education president.
Her strategic approach and clear communication are aligned with what the RCSD community values. The entire Board has the utmost confidence in Tricia’s leadership skills, energy, and integrity and are excited by her strategic vision for the Rye City School District.”
Dr. Murray developed Rye’s new elementary literacy program, focusing on phonics and data-based instruction, that has already shown significant student progress across the elementary schools. She partnered with the Science Department to guide the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards across the District, and spearheaded identifying, implementing and communicating the new offerings at RHS including AP Capstone distinction, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme and courses.
“I am so honored to have been selected as the next Superintendent of the Rye City Schools,” said Dr. Murray. “I am incredibly grateful to the Board of Education for placing their trust in me and look forward to continuing to focus on our students with the help of our talented and dedicated faculty, staff, administrators and supportive community.”
In a 2021 interview with MyRye.com, Dr. Murray said “I decided that Rye would be the best place for me because the ideals behind the Rye Commitment are very closely aligned with my own ideals as an educator. I believe that we need to teach children to be collaborative, think creatively and critically, and be responsible citizens.”
Read: Meet Patricia Murray, New Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment.
Prior to coming to Rye, Dr. Murray served as the Principal of the Bronxville Elementary School where she oversaw instruction for grades K-5 for nearly 700 students. She was formerly the Assistant Principal of Putnam Valley Elementary School in Putnam Valley, New York, for six years, spent several years as an elementary school teacher at Public School 11 in Manhattan, and began her career as a middle school mathematics teacher and elementary teacher in Randolph, MA.
Dr. Murray has a B.A. in Education from the University of Michigan, an M.A. in Elementary Education from New York University, and an Ed.D. from Fordham University.
In October, the Board engaged the services of Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA) to assist in conducting a comprehensive search process. The HYA team held focus groups and interviews with a wide range of stakeholders that included 106 community members, teachers, administrators, parents, union leaders and students. An additional 453 school and community members provided feedback through an online survey.
The Board of Education will hold a reception for Dr. Murray prior to the April 29th Board of Education meeting at 6:30pm in the multi-purpose room at Rye Middle School.
