The Herricks Board of Education swore in a new superintendent, a new Board of Education president and a new vice president.
Tony Sinanis was officially appointed the district’s superintendent Friday morning alongside Trustee James Gounaris, who was named the Board of Ed president, and Henry Zanetti, who was appointed vice president.
“I’m very excited to be a part of such a passionate community,” Sinanis said via Zoom. Sinanis also thanked outgoing Superintendent Fino Celano for the help he has provided during the transition process.
Sinanis joins Herricks with a quarter century of educational experience under his belt. He most recently served as the assistant superintendent for human resources and leadership development in the Chappaqua Central School District, which serves Chappaqua, Millwood and parts of Pleasantville and Mount Kisco. Sinanis had been in that role since 2018.
Previous posts included superintendent of the Hastings-on-Hudson School District, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for Plainedge School District and principal in both the Jericho and Valley Stream Central districts.
During Sinanis’ eight years as principal at Jericho’s Cantiague Elementary, the school was named a 2012 National Blue Ribbon School and 2015 Model School.
His honors include being named the 2014 New York State Elementary School Principal of the Year, the 2014 National Bammy Award Elementary School Principal of the Year. He has co-authored three books on branding, development and leadership.
Gounaris, a Manhasset Hills resident, was previously president of the board from 2013 to 2015. He is currently serving his fourth term on the board as a trustee after winning re-election in 2020.
“I want to thank the members of the Board of Education for electing me president once again,” Gounaris said. “It’s an honor to have that title.”
Zanetti, a Williston Park resident who served on the Herricks PTA for over a decade, was elected to the board in 2017. He is currently in
his second term.
“I look forward to this year as vice president working alongside James, Dr. Sinanis and, of course, my colleagues,” Zanetti said. “I’m looking forward to a very good year.”
