Conaway hired to be Trumansburg schools superintendent 

By Eddie Velazquez

A months-long search for a new superintendent to lead Trumansburg Central School District (TCSD) has concluded.

The TCSD Board of Education announced at its Dec. 10 meeting that the district will hire Megan Conaway as its next chief administrator. Conaway has been the longtime principal at Charles O. Dickerson High School. Her appointment caps off a search that started in late summer, when former Superintendent Kimberly Bell announced that she would retire in January.

Conaway was present at the meeting, noting that she was ecstatic to get to work. She will start her new job on Jan. 11. 

“It has  been an incredible journey so far. I look forward to my next adventure, and I would like to thank the board of education, as I mentioned previously,” Conaway said. “I would not be in this place without all your support and the opportunity to work with you as your new superintendent. I cannot thank Kimberly Bell enough for your leadership and support throughout my time here. I truly wish you the best with your retirement. I will certainly be reaching out to you. I am absolutely excited and thrilled as we move forward.” 

In a letter drafted by the board of education, members praised Conaway for her experience.

“Conaway brings a wealth of experience in educational leadership, equity initiatives, and community engagement,” they wrote in the letter. “Most recently, she has served as the principal of [the high school], where she strengthened community connections, prioritized college and career readiness, and provided strong instructional leadership. Over her career, Conaway has championed inclusive and equitable practices, facilitated the implementation of innovative programs, and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student success.”

Conaway’s educational background includes completion of the prestigious New York State Superintendent Development Program through SUNY Oswego, along with a Certificate of Advanced Study from SUNY Cortland in both school and district leadership, the board wrote in its note. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in counselor education from SUNY Oneonta and has served in leadership roles ranging from dean of students to director of recreation, showcasing her versatility and lifelong dedication to learning, the board added.

In the letter, Conaway said that she is proud of her tenure at the district. 

“I look forward to strengthening partnerships to ensure our students receive the best education in a safe and vibrant community,” she wrote. “Trumansburg is truly a special place, and I am honored to fully support and commit my energy to all students and staff.”

Board of Education President Megan Williams said in the letter that she looks forward to working with Conaway.

“Conaway’s seven years of experience [at TCSD] has given her a strong foundation to be able to support current district goals as well as look at ways that we can move the district forward with new and innovative ideas,” Williams wrote. “The board looks forward to this new chapter in Trumansburg history and is confident in Conaway’s leadership as we continue to keep students at the forefront of all we do.”

The search was conducted with the aid of Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES Superintendent Lilly Talcott, who in the past has consulted on similar searches for other districts in the region. The process began with wide-reaching community feedback. Stakeholders across the district, including students, families, staff and community members, shared their insights into the strengths and needs of TCSD and the key characteristics desired in its next superintendent. These findings informed the board’s decision-making and helped ensure alignment with the district’s vision and goals. A semi-closed interview process followed, involving a diverse group of stakeholders who rigorously evaluated finalists and provided invaluable feedback to the board.

“You have been so connected to your mission and your vision and to the community’s feedback as to who they needed to lead this school district,” Talcott told the board at the Dec. 10 meeting “I am pretty sure we spent about 45-50 hours together.”

Talcott said the district combed through an “impressive candidate” pool to arrive at its determination. She said the community provided “fabulous input.”

Ulysses Connection appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com. Contact Eddie Velazquez at edvel37@gmail.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @ezvelazquez.

In brief:

The SPCA of Tompkins County is seeking cat food donations. 

SPCA officials wrote in the town of Ulysses weekly newsletter:

“How you can help:

• Drop off donations of dry cat food (any brand or size) at 1640 Hanshaw Rd. in Ithaca.
• Order from our wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2ZVUUM77Y7RBH”
  

The SPCA can be reached at 607-274-6688.