Board President James Scudder read a statement thanking Mr. Connelly for his time on the board, which included overseeing the district’s response to the COVID pandemic:

“On behalf of my colleagues on the board, I would like to thank Brian Connelly for his seven years of invaluable service to our community as a member of this Board of Education, and for his passion and commitment to the students of the Riverhead School District. He served through one of the most difficult times for all of us — the COVID pandemic — and his leadership during that time of president on this board, 
and his always steady and thoughtful consideration of the issues facing this board, have been instrumental in the district’s successful navigation of financial, educational and regional challenges over the past several years. 

“We know that Brian has been facing some personal issues, and that is the reason he decided to step down from the board in the middle of this — his third term as an elected board member. 

“Some questioned why the board did not act sooner regarding Brian’s board seat. In respect for Brian, his contributions to this board and the Riverhead community … we felt it was warranted and the right thing to do was to give Brian as much time as possible to make his decision. 

“We will now move forward, considering an appointment to fill Brian’s board seat until the end until the next trustee election, May 2026. Again, we want to thank Brian for his service to the students of the Riverhead School District and to the Riverhead community.”

Mr. Connelly’s profile was no longer on the BOE website as of June 11.

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Mr. Hagan’s career in education spans 26 years on Long Island and he currently serves as assistant superintendent of human resources for the Longwood Central School District. He started in 1999, working as a social studies teacher for eight years before entering the administrative sphere as a secondary school assistant principal in the Port Jefferson School District in 2007.

His other administrative positions over the past two decades include assistant secondary administrator for instruction and administration in the William Floyd School District, as well as director of instruction and learning technology and principal of the Bonac Learning Center in the East Hampton School District. 

Mr. Hagan’s initial three-year contract runs through June 30, 2028. He will earn an annual salary of $260,000.

“Thank you so much for the warm welcome. It’s truly amazing,” Mr. Hagan said at the April 9 school board meeting. “It’s really just a privilege to be a part of this wonderful community, amazing team, certainly talking to some of the principals, the directors and some of the community members. It’s just truly an honor and I’m so humbled to be here.”

In a phone interview following his appointment, Mr. Hagan spoke about how his previous professional responsibilities have prepared him for the superintendent role. Through his experiences teaching, coaching, being an adviser and moving up to administrator and assistant superintendent positions in the last five years, he said one of the most important things he has learned is how people are “the absolute greatest asset” when it comes to education.

“From teachers to custodial staff, bus drivers, school monitors, teacher aides — just everybody moving in a common direction really is what gets the ball rolling and moving in a direction where children can be successful,” Mr. Hagan said. “I’ve learned to listen more and certainly realize, collectively, we’re going to be able to do this together in a collaborative way.”

Mr. Hagan said he has already gotten a great first impression of the school district this first week and has begun meeting with other administrators, faculty, staff and other members of the school community.

Over the next few months, he said, he hopes to listen and learn from as many people within the school district as possible to get a better understanding of their concerns and aspirations. He plans to continue to move forward with the foundation that interim superintendent Cheryl Pedisich and the current school administration have laid so far.

“Coming to Riverhead, for me, feels like you’re coming home,” Mr. Hagan said. “I just really want to be part of something that is greater than myself and certainly want to work as hard as I possibly can for the children and the community members.”

Ms. Pedisich took the top spot in the district in October 2023 after former superintendent Augustine Tornatore resigned. She was initially meant to serve in the role through June 30, 2024, while the district searched for a new full-time superintendent, but her contract was extended for another year.

Several people expressed their gratitude for Ms. Pedisich’s leadership and commitment to the Riverhead Central School District over the last few years. She said it has been “truly an honor” and a “rewarding experience” to serve the community.

School board president James Scudder expressed his excitement on behalf of the entire board to begin working with Mr. Hagan.

“We look forward to working alongside Dr. Hagan and engaging with the remarkable expertise and enthusiasm he will bring as we further cultivate Riverhead’s outstanding culture of achievement,” Mr. Scudder said. “We will continue to coordinate to ensure a seamless leadership transition.”

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During the reorganization meeting, Mr. Scudder and Ms. Healy took their oaths as school board president and vice president, respectively. Former president Colin Palmer did not seek reelection this year after serving on the board for three years. 

Mr. Scudder, a board newcomer, and Ms. Healy, who won a second term in May, are both parents of Riverhead students and are active in the Riverhead community 

With a busy school year ahead, both said they recognize the responsibility they have to find a permanent new superintendent for the district. 

“We asked James [to be president] and I loved his response. He said, ‘You know me; I will always step up and do whatever for this district,’ ” Ms. Healy said. “We appreciate him leading us.” 

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