Ulster BOCES has announced the appointment of veteran educator and school leader Ed Forgit as its new assistant superintendent for operations. The Board of Education unanimously approved the appointment during its meeting on June 26. 

Forgit is an educator and administrator with nearly three decades of experience working in public schools. He is coming to Ulster BOCES from the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, where he worked as an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction before becoming deputy superintendent in 2013. He also stepped up to fill the role of interim superintendent for Newburgh during the 2021-2022 school year.

His career in education began in 1996, when he started working as a Special Education teacher in Greenwood Lake. After a few years, he was promoted to chairperson/supervisor of Special Education for the same school district. He later joined Dutchess BOCES, working as an education coordinator, assistant director, and director for the Hudson Valley Regional School Support Center. The Center, he explained, is responsible for supporting high-need/low-performing schools across the Hudson Valley, and his position required him to collaborate with leaders from several BOCES in the area, including Ulster BOCES.

It was through that position that Forgit came to understand and respect the impact that a BOCES could have on student outcomes across the region. It also introduced him to one of his most impactful mentors, former Ulster BOCES Assistant Superintendent Jane Bullowa.

“Jane taught me the real-world experience of being a school and district administrator,” he said. “Jane and I spent many hours discussing the challenges that our students and school systems were facing, and hypothesizing on how we were going to change the world.” 

Several years and a few positions later, Forgit found himself reflecting on his time working with Ulster BOCES and began to familiarize himself with the current status of the organization.

“I became inspired by the work that was occurring under the new administrative team,” he said. “The opportunity to return to an organization that helped prepare me for a successful career just felt right.”  

Forgit holds both a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Administration and a master’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from Mount Saint Mary College. He also earned a Certificate of Advanced Study from the State University of New York at New Paltz.

With his extensive knowledge and wide range of experiences, Forgit says he brings a variety of skills to the table, as well as a solid understanding of the inner workings of a large city school district.

“Working in Newburgh has prepared me to better connect with the local school districts and to understand the success, barriers, and obstacles confronting them,” he said. “This will afford me the opportunity to work with the team to develop supports that will meet their unique needs.” 

Forgit, who is as passionate about professional development as he is about school transformation, says he is fortunate to have participated in several training sessions offered by the New York State Education Department, Harvard University, the New York City Leadership Academy, and the National Learning Forward Conferences. 

“I have been trained as a leadership coach and take great pride in building the capacity of adult learners,” he said.

Although he won’t officially assume his new position until later this summer, Forgit had the opportunity to participate in leadership team meetings at Ulster BOCES in July. He said it was “refreshing” to observe leaders engaged in sessions that focused on achieving the organization’s North Star Educational Commitments. “It was even more gratifying to observe the leaders embracing the commitments through their actions,” he said. 

In his new position, Forgit says he is looking forward to working with the staff at the Mid-Hudson Regional Information Center to capitalize on the many offerings that are successful, while retooling the Center to better meet the needs of school districts across the region. 

He is also excited for the opportunity to collaborate with school leaders to implement the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission, which will provide greater opportunities for students as they complete their high school programs. In addition, he will be onboard to support the launch of iPark 87 (the future home of the Ulster BOCES Career Pathways Academies) and help expand Special Education programming to meet the needs of students across the County. 

In his early days, however, Forgit will focus on listening and learning about the many positive things that are happening across the organization. 

“Through collaboration, I hope to learn how I might add value that will impact the lives of students at Ulster BOCES and in the school districts across the County,” he said. ​​“I also hope to help improve the efficiency of the organization by putting processes and procedures in place that will be beneficial to everyone.”