Jason Evangelist, interim superintendent since late December, has begun work as the new superintendent of the Camden Central School District.
The school board appointed Evangelist at a special meeting on June 30 and he started work the next day.
Evangelist, the former superintendent of the Holland Patent Central School District from 2017 to 2021, joined Camden schools in 2021 as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
Evangelist replaces Ravo Root as superintendent. Root had announced in November that he would retire on July 31 of this year. But he went out on a medical leave in December and officially retired on April 2.
Evangelist said he’s honored to be appointed to the role.
“Since joining the Camden CSD Team four years ago, I have been grateful for the warm welcome and unwavering support I’ve received from our incredible students, talented staff, passionate community members and dedicated board of education,” Evangelist said in a statement. “It is a privilege to be part of a school community that is so committed to putting students first and I look forward to continuing our work supporting the success of every student.”
The announcement of his appointment from the district highlighted Evangelist’s “commitment to supporting student success, delivering exceptional experience, focusing on student well-being and building a thriving learning community’ during his 26-year educational career.
A superintendent search, that included help from Madison Oneida BOCES District Superintendent and CEO Scott Budelmann, began in January and included a community survey land five stakeholder advisory committees. The search brought in nine candidates, four of whom were selected for three rounds of interviews with the school board. The finalists interviews with the advisory committees, too, and their feedback factored into the board’s final decision.
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Jason into the role of Superintendent,” school board President Katherine Stone said in a statement. “Over the last four years, he has routinely demonstrated that he is a tremendous asset to our district. He is a proven leader who strives to give our students, staff, and community a positive experience in our schools each day. We look forward to continuing to work with him for many years to come.”
More about Evangelist
Evangelist is a life-long resident of Camden’s neighboring city, Rome.
“Being a Blue Devil is a tremendous source of pride,” he said in a statement. “We have so much to celebrate and be proud of as we honor Camden’s rich traditions. We also look forward to exploring new ways to grow and meet the evolving needs of our students and community.
“There is important work ahead as we strive to meet the ever-changing needs of our students. Yet, I am confident that through working collaboratively and by building on our positive momentum, we will rise to the challenge.”
As assistant superintendent, Evangelist has, according to the district:
Evangelist started his career as an elementary teacher in a multi-age classroom in the Whitesboro Central School District. He then served as an assistant principal in the Westmoreland Central School District, principal of Nicholas A. Walbran Elementary School in Oriskany and assistant superintendent for teaching, learning and accountability for grades K-4 in the Rome City School District.
He holds a B.S. in elementary education and an M.S. in reading from SUNY Cortland. He earned his New York State School District Administrator Certification from SUNY Cortland and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Camden school board sticks close to home to choose new superintendent
Reporting by Amy Neff Roth, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
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