The Fonda-Fultonville Central School District Board of Education has selected Richard DeMallie, Ed.D. as its next superintendent of schools.
Dr. DeMallie, the current superintendent of the Fort Edward Union Free School District, was appointed during a special board of education meeting held on June 10, 2024. He’s set to officially assume the duties as Fonda-Fultonville superintendent on September 1, 2024.
DeMallie will replace current superintendent Thomas Ciaccio, who notified the board last year that he will retire at the end of August. Mr. Ciaccio has served as the Fonda-Fultonville superintendent for the past nine years.
During his time in Fort Edward, DeMallie has worked closely with administrators, teachers and staff to improve student outcomes, increasing the graduation rate from 72% to 82%. He has also focused on enhancing the experience of their students by increasing academic, extracurricular, and athletic opportunities. Additionally, in 2023-24 the district implemented The Positivity Project (P2), an empowering initiative incorporating daily lessons that foster positive character-based relationships among all students.
Fort Edward has navigated the past two difficult budget years with successful votes and district residents recently approved a $14.7 million capital project.
A graduate of Fonda-Fultonville Central School, Dr. DeMallie started his administrative career in 2005 as assistant high school principal in Gloversville. He would then be named high school principal in 2008, a position he held until his departure for Fort Edward in 2022.
DeMallie earned his bachelor’s degree in Education from SUNY Cortland and his master’s degree in Educational Leadership from The College of St. Rose. He also holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sage College of Albany. He resides in Fonda with his wife, Patty, and daughter, Karina, a student at Fonda-Fultonville.
“Who I am today I attribute to the outstanding educational foundation and values that I received as a student at Fonda-Fultonville,” said DeMallie. “One of my life goals has always been to lead the district and build upon the longstanding traditions and successes of FFCS. I am truly thankful to the Fort Edward community, the staff, and especially the students for the opportunity to be their superintendent, but I am happy to be coming home to Fonda-Fultonville where my journey to become an educator and eventually a superintendent started.”
DeMallie was selected following a comprehensive search process. The process involved collecting feedback from various community stakeholders regarding what they hoped to see in the school district’s next leader. Feedback was gathered from employees, families and community members through an open survey and a series of focus groups. HFM BOCES District Superintendent David Ziskin served as the search consultant for Fonda-Fultonville.
