New Superintendent Jim Nolan Proud of Sachem Family and Unity District Provides

Community members and Sachem faculty rose and gave Jim Nolan a hefty standing ovation when he was appointed Superintendent of the Sachem Central School District December 16, 2009.

It marked a transition to a bright future and change of guard that some consider to be long overdue. Nolan, who replaced Dr. Charles J. Murphy, is the ninth Superintendent in the history of the district, which has existed since 1955.

From his office at the Sachem district offices in Holbrook, Nolan smiled when he spoke of the Sachem family and the bond he has formed since his first day of work as an English teacher in 1983.

"No body has been more blessed and has benefited from the Sachem family more than me," he said proudly, surround by pictures of his family, a large structure that says "imagine," and an article about the farewell sendoff students and faculty gave him at North last year.

Nolan graduated from Bayport-Blue Point High School, attended Le Moyne College in Syracuse and received his Masters from Stony Brook University. He received his special education certification from C.W. Post and did his administrative studying at the College of New Rochelle.

He worked at Sachem until 1992 and was excised, at which point he took at job at Kings Park and eventually became the dean of students at Patchogue-Medford High School. By the end of his first year in Pat-Med, Dr. James Ruck called him and asked if he would be the assistant principal at Sachem North under former principal Dennis James. He bounced back to Pat-Med as a middle school principal for another year and eventually was hired as the principal at Sachem North, a position he held from 2002-2009.

Nolan, 49, who lives in Patchogue with his wife Jacqueline, daughters Kaleigh and Emma and son Kieran, said it was difficult leaving his post at North because he absolutely loved his job. Now it's on to bigger things.

"It's a huge learning curve, but there are so many good people and a lot of help and support both here at district office and in the community," he said. "I hope I earn the respect and trust of the people that work here and the people that live in the community."

When you walk into district office, there are large portraits of the former district Superintendents, a daunting reminder that many men who led Sachem did an exceptional job. Nolan has a modest take on his predecessors.

"If I can be half the success that those people on that wall have been I'll be pretty lucky," he said. "Those are some pretty wonderful people, not only as Superintendents, but as genuinely good people."

Nolan said he was fond of Dr. Leonard Adler, who was the Superintendent when he originally taught at Sachem. He knew he could always pick up the phone if he needed Adler, a similar approach which he takes today with friends and colleagues.

Though Nolan is starting at a difficult position in possibly the worst economic year in New York State when considering education, he will be using participatory leadership with his peers to make calculated decisions regarding the district and community.

"The most important thing is to use my eyes and ears," he said.

Regarding the budget, Nolan really believes that unity will help the district be as responsible as it can. He said people have worked well together, and have effectively managed to provide students with the best learning environment.

Sachem's other Superintendents:

Walter C. Dunham

Richard A. Berger

Bernard E. Brisson

Dr. Leonard Adler

Dr. Tom E. Bierwirth

Dr. James A. Ruck

Dr. Charles J. Murphy

Jim Nolan