The role of guidance director at John Jay High School will be filled—on an interim basis—by Marisa Merlino, who last served as interim assistant principal for Millbrook schools and previously served as guidance director for Hyde Park schools for five years.
The district released a statement Wednesday afternoon announcing Merlino's appointment, expected to be confirmed Thursday night. She will fulfill the role while the district searches for a permanent replacement.
“John Jay High School is now fully staffed and prepared for the start of the school year,” stated Board of Education President Mark Lipton. “After a thorough search and hiring process, the board is pleased to appoint Ms. Merlino as Interim Director of Guidance. John Jay is fortunate to have such a good balance of returning and new leadership.”
Merlino's responsibilities in the Hyde Park district included supervising and evaluating a number of staff members; coordinating college fairs, informational presentations, and the Freshman Orientation Program; creating the Master Schedule and Course Selection Guide; organizing testing; coordinating tutoring; and supervising the Alternative Education Program. She also chaired the Comprehensive School Health Advisory Committee.
"I am honored and enthusiastic to become part of the Katonah-Lewisboro school community,” Merlino said in the statement. “I look to forward to working with and supporting the staff, students and parents of the district." She will begin her new role on August 15.
According to the district, earlier in her career, Merlino served as a School Counselor at Van Wyck Junior High School in the Wappinger’s Central School District, and Student Support Services Coordinator at the Mid-Hudson Regional Information Center – Ulster BOCES. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in School Counseling, which she obtained from The Sage Colleges in Troy.
“Ms. Merlino joins us with nine years of administrative leadership experience, and we believe she will be an excellent addition to our High School,” stated Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Kreutzer. “We are pleased to welcome her as we begin the new school year.”
The school board meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be held in the John Jay Middle School Library.
