Dear GNPS Community, 

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year! I’m pleased to report that the new school year got off to a smooth start this week. I had the opportunity to visit all schools on “Opening Day” and it was invigorating to see so many smiles on the faces of our students and staff who are happy to be back together with their friends and colleagues. 

Over the past two weeks, I welcomed new teachers at New Faculty Orientation, spoke to all staff on Superintendent’s Conference Day, visited every school on Opening Day, and attended several of our schools’ Open House events. I look forward to seeing more of you at district activities in the weeks and months to come. With that in mind, I’d like to remind the community about two opportunities to connect and share your thoughts about the District. 

Superintendent Meet and Greet

As I mentioned in a previous letter, the Board of Education has graciously arranged a Meet & Greet event on my behalf for Wednesday, September 13 at 5:30 p.m. in the South High School library. I’m looking forward to this opportunity to engage with students, staff, and residents in an unstructured, casual setting. The entire GNPS community is invited and light refreshments will be provided, courtesy of the Board. I hope to see you there.

ThoughtExchange

As part of my 100 Day Plan, and to hear from as many constituents as possible, I’ve created a survey using a collaborative platform called ThoughtExchange. The survey has one open-ended question: “What priorities and/or insights would you like the new Superintendent of Schools to be aware of?” By using the ThoughtExchange platform, everyone has an opportunity to share their thoughts and understand what’s most important to the community. 

This Exchange is confidential. Your thoughts will be shared with other participants, but not your identity. After you share your own thoughts, you can see and rate ideas that other participants provided on a scale of 1 to 5 stars (strongly disagree to strongly agree). In the final step, participants can view how the thoughts in the Exchange have been rated by the group.

To participate, please click: https://tejoin.com/scroll/824418973. This Exchange will stay open through September 29, 2023. I encourage everyone to share your thoughts and visit the Exchange often to rate new ideas. 

September is off to a great start and I look forward to the exciting events, activities, and accomplishments that the 2023-24 school year has in store. 

Warm regards, 
Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community Members,

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year.  Although the calendar indicates that this summer break was longer than in recent years, it certainly seemed to go by very quickly.  I hope that the months of July and August allowed you to spend time with family and friends engaging in all of the activities that make this time of year so special.  

As you are aware, my formal transition to Great Neck began on August 1.  That said, I have been working to prepare for the coming school year from the moment I was appointed by the Board of Education in June.  During the summer months, I was afforded the opportunity to meet with many stakeholders within both the district and the community.  I would like to offer my sincere appreciation for all those that took the time to meet with me, send an email, or simply approached me within the community to say hello.  The conversations and interactions I have had have helped to solidify how happy I am to be part of the Great Neck community.  I look forward to seeing many of you at the various events scheduled throughout the month of September and as the year progresses.

One of these events is a special “meet and greet” hosted by the Board of Education.  This is an opportunity for you to engage with me in an unstructured, casual setting, where we can simply put “faces to names” and get to know one another a bit.  Please join me on Wednesday, September 13, at 5:30 p.m. in the South High School library.  Light refreshments will be provided courtesy of the Board of Education (with my appreciation). 

While our students were not in attendance, the administration, faculty, clerical staff, custodial, and buildings/grounds crew steadily worked to ensure the smooth opening of our schools for the 2023-24 school year.  We are eager to meet the students who will be joining us for the first time, and welcome back all returning scholars.  Our instructional staff has been diligent in preparing lesson plans, revising curriculum, examining new programs, and technology integration initiatives.  You will also note the successful completion of several, wonderful capital projects across the District.  These completed projects, as well as ongoing construction projects at Baker and Lakeville schools, are focused on maximizing instructional opportunities as well as enhancing the overall safety, health, and welfare of all students, faculty, staff, and parents/community members.

I am pleased to report that, through our partnership with local law enforcement agencies, a thorough audit of all aspects of District security were reviewed.  The audit completed by the Nassau County Division of Homeland Security noted many strengths within both our facilities and procedures.  They also made recommendations for future improvements that will assist us in hardening our buildings as well as our systems.  We are thankful for this partnership and look forward to continued collaboration with each agency.  The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority.

As all faculty members prepare to return for the scheduled conference day activities on Thursday, August 31, they will be advised that our theme of the year is, “The Race for Excellence has No Finish Line.”  As evidenced by the 2023 Niche ratings (#1 in New York State, #3 in the nation), the Great Neck Public Schools is a special place filled with outstanding achievement.  We collectively agree that we also possess even greater potential.  There are always areas for focus and improvement.  

I am very proud to begin this school year serving as your superintendent.  While it is my first year as the instruction leader in Great Neck, it will represent my thirteenth “Opening Day” as a superintendent and, notably, my thirtieth as an educator. As we enter into the important home/school partnership, I look forward to effective collaboration and communication with all stakeholders.  Your input into identifying the priorities of the District will be welcomed.  In the coming weeks, please anticipate receiving a Thought Exchange (narrative survey) that will give all participants the opportunity to share thoughts and perspectives about the district.

Please refer to our website and district social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram) to stay updated regarding all school activities.  In addition, please consider following me on X (formerly Twitter) to gain some additional information and insight about what is happening in both our district and the educational community.  My account can be found at Dr.Bossert@GreatNeck_Super and our hashtag - #DiscoverGreatness

I look forward to working with you to make the 2023-24 school year a one to remember for all students.

Warm Regards, 

Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Members of the Great Neck Community,

I hope this communication finds you well and enjoying the second half of what has been a pleasant summer. As you are aware, my official transition to the position of Superintendent of Schools began on August 1. Since that time, I have had the opportunity to meet with a number of stakeholders, as well as tour several of our school buildings and the surrounding, beautiful community.

As you will note in my 100 Day entry plan (now posted to the district’s website), I have plans to thoroughly review all aspects of operations of Great Neck Public Schools. I look forward to working with each of you to gain additional information and perspectives that will assist me in meeting with success as the instructional leader of the district.

For those who subscribe to Newsday, you may have noticed that a follow-up article was published regarding a security incident that had taken place last year at South High School. Out of respect for our students’ rights and privacy (guided by FERPA), the district cannot, in any capacity, comment on matters of student discipline. It would also be premature on my part to comment on any of these events until I have had the opportunity to thoroughly review the investigation and meet with the individuals directly involved. Should additional security protocols or a change in our discipline procedures be warranted after this thorough review, I will share the information with our community.

Please know, however, that matters of safety, health and welfare are of the utmost of importance to me and the entirety of the district leadership team. Any and all security/procedural enhancements that are deemed appropriate have already been implemented or will be for the coming school year. I look forward to engaging all stakeholders on this journey of communication, understanding, growth and discovery.

Please anticipate further information in the near future which will include details regarding a “meet and greet” being planned on my behalf in September. I look forward to the opportunity to interact with many of you on that occasion and throughout the coming school year.

Please enjoy the remainder of your summer.

Warm Regards,
Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Great Neck Community Members,

As I begin my tenure as Superintendent of Schools for the district, I would first like to thank the many students, parents, staff members and residents who have taken the time to introduce themselves and warmly welcomed me to the school community.  The kind words that have been thoughtfully shared have been greatly appreciated.  Since the time I was announced as the district’s new leader, I have met with the Board of Education, administrators and other members of the district team. While August 1 is my “official” first day as Superintendent of Schools, my interactions with various stakeholders over the past several weeks have provided me with a solid foundation regarding the district and community on which to build.

I join all residents of Great Neck in mourning the loss of Dr. Prendergast.  My thoughts and prayers are with her family and all those who knew her.  I deeply regret that I was unable to partner with her during this transitional process, but am extremely thankful for the opportunity to continue the outstanding work she helped to foster within the district.  I am committed to continuing her legacy of making certain that all decisions are made in the best interest of our students and the Great Neck community.

The community’s approval of the 2023-24 operating budget will allow the district to continue to provide an extremely diverse learning environment for students at all levels. The variety of instructional designs, technology resources as well as extra-curricular, co-curricular, and athletic activities is nothing short of outstanding.  I was pleased to learn that so many students in this district take advantage of these opportunities, as I believe they contribute greatly to the educational experience offered in any district.  After only a surface review of district offerings, there is little mystery as to why Niche Magazine recently ranked Great Neck Public Schools as number one in New York State and number three in the nation.  I am overjoyed to be joining such a successful team.

While it is summer and the schools are quiet, please be assured that our work continues. We are refining certain areas of the curriculum, planning for professional development to be offered to staff, and finalizing course schedules and class assignments.  Our facilities and grounds crew are also already hard at work preparing our buildings for the start of school in early September, inclusive of some extensive capital improvements that we look forward to sharing.

In the coming days I will be posting my 100 Day Entry Plan to the district website.  You will note that part of this plan will be to become better acquainted with as many stakeholders as possible in order to gain perspectives on various aspects of the district and community. If you would like the opportunity to meet with me, please contact my assistant, Kuniko Langel, at (516) 441-4006 to arrange a mutually convenient time.

Again, thank you for your sincere welcome to this wonderful school community. I look forward to meeting many stakeholders throughout the summer and as school resumes in September.  

Best wishes for a safe and happy month of August, full of memories with family and friends.

Sincerely,

Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools