Richard Hooley retires as BOCES superintendent

SALT POINT — When the Dutchess County Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) Board of Trustees accepted a resignation letter from District Superintendent Richard Hooley on Dec. 9, 2020, his retirement date of Aug. 31, 2001  seemed a long way off. Yet it finally arrived this past week, and as of Sept. 1, Hooley will start what hopefully will be a long, happy and well-deserved retirement.

Hooley began his tenure at BOCES in September of 2015 as its district superintendent. Prior to that he was superintendent of the Valley Central School District in Montgomery, Orange County.  

According to BOCES Board President Edward L. McCormick, “Richard hit the ground running and he… hasn’t had a moment’s rest since coming here and he’s never complained. He’s all about BOCES and BOCES children.”

McCormick added that accepting Hooley’s resignation was a bittersweet moment, especially as Deputy Superintendent Cora Stemple also announced her retirement at that same December 2020 meeting. 

Hooley praised Stemple. He said that they had worked closely together for those six years. He recalled one highlight of their tenure getting the public to vote and approve a $36.8 million capital improvement project that allowed the Alternative High School and Career and Technical Institute to be located at a single campus at Salt Point. 

Prior to that approval, it was more than 50 years since a capital project had been approved at BOCES. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused some delays, but the project has moved forward and is currently underway at Salt Point.

Of his six years at BOCES, Hooley said, “This has been a wonderful experience with a terrific team.” 

Noting how much has been accomplished during his time there, Hooley said he will not only miss the work, but he will also miss the people he worked with.

Among the accomplishments he is most proud of include making great strides in placing a focus on academics for BOCES students, especially in writing, literature and technology. He noted he had “great school superintendents to work with in the 13 districts he oversaw, 10 of them new, and coming in the midst of a pandemic. This was difficult because things kept changing and one had to figure out what the needs were and the guidelines, almost on a weekly basis.” 

Hooley said he feels he and Stemple are leaving BOCES in good order and in capable hands. Those are the hands of Jodi DeLucia, named deputy superintendent after being in the Dutchess BOCES Educational Resources Division for 16 years. She took over for Stemple on July 19. 

Taking over the post of district superintendent is Jason B. Schetelick, unanimously appointed to the post effective Sept. 1, by the Dutchess County BOCES Board of Education at its June 9 meeting. 

Schetelick was the executive director of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Jersey City Public Schools since 2013; he most recently served as deputy superintendent.

He served also as superintendent in the New Jersey school districts of Bloomfield, Barnegat and Great Meadows, using his strong background in technical education and workforce development. Schetelick begins his new position on Sept. 2.

As to his future plans, Hooley, although not originally from New York, said he has come to love it. He said has a farmhouse in Poughkeepsie, just waiting for some do-it-yourself projects to be tackled. He also loves to garden and travel. 

Those who know him may have a difficult time believing he won’t miss his work in education after so many years in that world. But certainly it’s easy to believe they will all wish him well in the coming years, and praise him for a job well done for the years he spent at BOCES.