Jericho schools' Grishman wins state honor

Undated handout of Henry Grishman, Jericho schools chief, named State... — Undated handout of Henry Grishman, Jericho schools chief, named State School Superintendent of the Year. (Dec. 22, 2011) Credit: Jericho school district

By JOHN HILDEBRANDjohn.hildebrand@newsday.comDecember 22, 2011

Hank Grishman, Jericho's schools chief for the past 16 years, has been named 2012 State School Superintendent of the Year.

Grishman's award was announced Thursday in Albany by the New York State Council of School Superintendents, for which the Jericho administrator served as president in 2007-08. Grishman now becomes a candidate for national superintendent of the year, to be named in February at a convention of the American Association of School Administrators in Houston.

In a phone interview, Grishman, 66, noted that major financial challenges loom in the year ahead, especially a 2 percent annual statewide cap on local school taxes. In June, Grishman took a five-year freeze on his $288,794 salary, saying he hoped that would help set a positive tone at a time when administrators' high pay had become a major issue.

"All districts are under tremendous fiscal pressures, and that is when our leadership is so important in maintaining the best educational programs for the future citizens of our state and country," he said Thursday.

The 3,200-student Jericho district has long ranked among the highest achieving on Long Island. It is listed as No. 1 on Long Island and 77th in the nation this year in a Washington Post survey based on high school students' participation and performance on college-level tests.

Grishman began his career as a math teacher and has served as superintendent in five New York State districts, including Plainview-Old Bethpage, over 33 years. His other jobs as superintendent were upstate. Marilyn Terranova, president of the state superintendents' council, said Grishman's selection recognizes success in "serving diverse communities across our state."

Over the years, the Island has produced numerous state superintendents of the year, including Bill Johnson, the current Rockville Centre schools chief, 2005; Candee Swenson, former Longwood superintendent, 2004; William Brosnan, former Northport-East Northport chief, 2003; and Kevin McGuire, former Half Hollow Hills chief, 2001.

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