Raymond Sanchez of the Tarrytown Union Free School District has been selected as Superintendent of the Year for 2025 by the New York State Council of School Superintendents.
“All throughout his career, Ray has been a leader in the superintendency, from driving advocacy initiatives that increased resources in high-need communities across New York State and as an educational leader, creating trajectory-changing opportunities for his students,” said Council President Lars Clemensen, who serves as the superintendent in Hampton Bays, NY.
Sanchez said he has been driven by the maxim: “my good intentions are never enough. The hard work lies not in wanting to do the right thing, but in actually doing it. And that requires the efforts of many. I want to thank the communities of Ossining and Tarrytown, the many fine professionals I have worked with, and especially my Boards of Education for encouraging meaningful change on behalf of all children by recognizing that each child brings the potential for achievement and growth – and it is our moral responsibility to nurture and sustain them.”
Sanchez began work as superintendent of Tarrytown on July 1, 2023, after spending most of his career in the Ossining schools.
After beginning his career in the Arlington (NY) School District as a teacher in 1998, he served in a variety of capacities at Ossining, including ENL supervisor, ELA supervisory, and assistant principal. After a brief hiatus as a principal in a neighboring district, Sanchez returned to Ossining, working as an assistant superintendent and deputy superintendent before being named superintendent in 2013.
Ossining schools were in the midst of a demographic change when Sanchez was named superintendent, with significant numbers of recent immigrants, many from Central America, calling Ossining home. Having worked in the district for years, he was aware of the emerging challenges of the district that could only be addressed through a re-evaluation of principles, priorities and programs. And as a proficient bi-lingual speaker (English/Spanish) of Cuban heritage, he embraced the communication challenges that were key to building success.
Sanchez was lauded for the commitment to social justice and equity for all students in both Ossining and Tarrytown. In the latter, a community whose demographic profile closely resembles that of Ossining, the state council commended him for bringing “the same passion and principles of fairness and individualized focus on the families of the community.”
The state council also praised Sanchez for the dual language programs he instituted in both Ossining and Tarrytown — programs that help students become bilingual, bi-literate, and bi-cultural, and which contribute significantly to a broader appreciation of the power and promise of diversity and equity efforts.
“We are delighted for Ray and honored to be part of this recognition,” said Tarrytown UFSD Board of Education President Michelle DeFilippis. “His passion for social justice, his commitment to equity for all students, and his relentless support for the power of diversity is incredibly meaningful to our residents. In his short time in Tarrytown, he has inspired our educators, our families, and our broader community through his tireless efforts to create a fabric of collaboration and pride.”
Sanchez, who holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Manhattanville College, has been on the executive board of NYSCOSS, was the president of both the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents and the Putnam Northern Westchester Curriculum Council and served as a delegate for both the American Association of School Administrators and the NYS Association for Bilingual Education.
Outside of public education, he has been a board member at New York Presbyterian Hospital and the United Way. In May 2024, Sanchez was awarded an honorary doctorate from Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry.
