Traci Holtz Appointed Next Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services

The Pelham Board of Education appointed Traci Holtz as the next Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services at its meeting on May 4, 2022. Ms. Holtz is currently the Director of Pupil Personnel and Student Services for the Mount Pleasant Central School District, where she has served since 2016. 

“I am excited and honored to be joining the Pelham Public Schools family,” said Ms. Holtz.
“I know Pelham is a school and community that is bound to the ideas of excellence, inclusion, developing critical and creative thinkers and educating students from a whole child approach. I look forward to building upon the great foundational work that is already in place and work to advance the social-emotional and academic growth of all students so they can become successful, independent individuals once they set out into the world. I look forward to meeting you all soon!”

Ms. Holtz earned a B.A. in Psychology from New York University and a M.S. from the Columbia University School of Social Work with a Concentration on Children and Families. She also holds a M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration Program from the College of St. Rose. She is Certified Social Worker and is certified as a School Social Worker in New York State. 

In her current position, Ms. Holtz is responsible for leading Mount Pleasant’s special education, nursing and guidance departments. She serves as CSE Chair and oversees the elementary and secondary supervisors of special education and the CPSE Chairperson. Additionally, she has successfully designed and led parent information sessions, created professional development sessions for staff and has helped build and deliver a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support program for mental health. 

“Throughout the interview process, Ms. Holtz demonstrated a number of characteristics that I believe will make her an outstanding fit to lead the District’s special education, counseling and health services departments as well as guide the work under our Strategic Plan goal of supporting The Whole Child,” said Dr. Cheryl H. Champ, Superintendent of Schools. “Specifically, I was impressed with her communications skills, command of the special education and school counseling realms, and commitment to helping all students be successful. I want to thank everyone who participated in the search process and express my sincere gratitude to Rosemary Matthews, who continues to provide incredible leadership for the PPS Department during this transition.”

The appointment of Ms. Holtz follows a rigorous search and screening process. Partnering with a search consultant, Hazard, Young & Attea, the District held several focus groups with key constituencies, including families, administrators, teachers and support staff. The information gleaned from these focus groups, as well as a digital survey that was shared with the community, was used to create a leadership profile, which was then used to screen prospective candidates. Top candidates met with a committee of parents, teachers, administrators and support staff. Finalists met with Dr. Champ and the Superintendent’s Cabinet and were presented to the Board of Education for consideration.

Ms. Holtz’s appointment is effective July 1, 2022.