November 8, 2024
To the South Seneca Central School District Community:
At the Board of Education meeting on September 25, 2024, Superintendent Steve Parker Zielinski announced his retirement after more than 30 years of extraordinary service to the South Seneca Central School District. On behalf of the entire district and community, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Zielinski for his remarkable dedication, unwavering leadership, and deep love for the South Seneca community. His commitment over the past three decades has made an indelible impact on the SSCSD schools, students, and staff.
Mr. Zielinski’s tenure has been characterized by a profound connection to this community—he has truly been a pillar of South Seneca, leading with compassion, vision, and an enduring commitment to every student’s success. As he begins this new chapter of his life, we wish him nothing but the very best and hope he finds continued joy in his well-deserved retirement.
With Mr. Zielinski’s retirement, the district now faces the important task of selecting a new superintendent. I am honored to be serving as the search consultant for this critical process, and I am fully committed to working closely with the Board of Education to ensure we find a leader who will continue Mr. Zielinski’s legacy of service and dedication.
As the search consultant, my role will be to guide the Board through every step of the process, which includes defining the key qualities and qualifications for the next superintendent, advertising the vacancy, setting a timeline, and conducting a thorough review of candidates to identify the most suitable finalists. The Board is fully committed to selecting a leader who shares Mr. Zielinski’s passion for education and the community. The vacancy has been officially announced, and we are actively soliciting applications. I will work closely with the Board as we evaluate candidates and move forward with the selection process.
We believe that community and stakeholder input is essential to making this search a success. I encourage all members of the South Seneca community to participate in an online survey available here, and on the district website, www.southseneca.org, and on the Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES website, www.tstboces.org. This survey offers you the opportunity to provide your thoughts and input on the qualities and characteristics you feel are important in our next superintendent, and will be open through November 26, 2024.
As we move through this process and identify finalists, we will hold stakeholder committee discussions with each of the final candidates. More information on how to apply to serve on a stakeholder committee will be forthcoming. Should you have any questions or comments during the search process, please feel free to contact me directly at (607) 257-1551 or ltalcott@tstboces.org.
Our goal is to have a new superintendent in place by March 13, 2025. If, due to timeline needs, an Interim Superintendent is necessary at any point, we will be sure to let the community know. We will continue to keep the community informed throughout the process, and updates will be posted regularly on the South Seneca CSD website. I sincerely appreciate your continued support of the South Seneca Central School District and your participation in this important process.
Sincerely,
Lily C. Talcott
District Superintendent and CEO
Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES
Search Consultant for the South Seneca Central School District
Download the South Seneca Announcement of Superintendent Vacancy PDF
