Michael Podraza will be our Superintendent beginning July 1.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
South Kingstown, RI – The South Kingstown School Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Podraza as the new Superintendent of South Kingstown Public Schools following an extensive search process.
The search was conducted with the New England School Development Council (NESDEC). The search began with 25 applicants for the position, which was then narrowed down to six potential candidates by the Search Committee.
The list was then refined to two finalists. These two candidates visited our district and participated in a public forum for community questions. Following this, the candidates underwent a public interview with the school committee. The search process culminated in the selection of Mr. Michael Podraza.
Mr. Podraza brings a wealth of experience in education to the role. He began his career as a Social Studies teacher at Portsmouth High School, before becoming the Assistant Principal, then Principal at East Greenwich High School, and later the Assistant Superintendent of East Greenwich Schools. Mr. Podraza holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Rhode Island College and an undergraduate degree from the University of Rhode Island.
Mr. Podraza said about his appointment, "The South Kingstown community has a well-deserved reputation for excellence in education from inside the classroom, to up on the stage, and on to the athletic fields and I'm eager to contribute to that legacy."
School Committee Chair Paula Whitford expressed the committee's confidence in Mr. Podraza's leadership, stating, "We are excited to have Mr. Podraza as our new superintendent. I want to acknowledge the search committee that brought us these tremendous candidates, it was an honest and transparent process. It will allow us to move forward as a district. I would also like to thank Robert Littlefield and Alexis Meyer for leading us through this turbulent time and guiding us to a new positive future for SKSD".
Mr. Podraza and his wife and two daughters reside in West Greenwich.