Claire Comerford Appointed Asst. Superintendent for Teaching & Learning

Dear Pelham Community,

On June 18, 2024, the Board of Education appointed Claire Comerford as our next Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning. Ms. Comerford comes to Pelham from the Somers Central School District where she has served in numerous roles, most recently as the Director of Learning at the secondary level. I am confident that her impressive career as an educator, experience designing and implementing programs with direct relevance to ours, and reputation as communicator and collaborator will make her a strong leader for our curriculum team. She will assume her new role succeeding Dr. Alice Bowman effective August 1, 2024. 

"I am thrilled to join a school district renowned for its rigor and unwavering commitment to students and the community,” Ms. Comerford said. “It is an honor to be part of an organization that values education, fosters growth, and prioritizes the well-being of every student."  

Ms. Comerford’s appointment comes following a robust search that was supported by consultants at School Leadership, LLC, which included interviews with a broad range of stakeholders. Throughout the process, which culminated in final interviews with myself and the Board of Education, Ms. Comerford’s breadth of experience was evident, leading to her appointment Tuesday night. 

Throughout her career, Ms. Comerford has demonstrated a skillset that aligns well with our District’s mission, vision and educational program. Specifically, she possesses experience in strategic planning and instructional design, having implemented initiatives such as embedded honors courses, FLES, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program. Further, Ms. Comerford has shown an ability to use data to inform instruction and possesses the innovative mindset that has become a hallmark of the Pelham Public Schools.

Prior to her current position in Somers, Ms. Comerford served as the Director of Learning for K-12 Humanities and as the Assistant Director of Learning K-12. She previously held the position of Assistant Principal at Somers High School and was a teacher at Rye Neck High School. Ms. Comerford earned a B.A. in History and M.S. in Education from Fordham University. She also holds a Certification of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from SUNY New Paltz and is pursuing her doctorate from Manhattanville University. 

Please join me in welcoming Ms. Comerford to the Pelham Public Schools community and wishing Dr. Bowman the best of luck in her new position. 

Sincerely,

Cheryl H. Champ, Ed. D. 

Superintendent of Schools