A familiar face is returning to the Caesar Rodney School District as superintendent.
Christine Alois, the deputy secretary for the Delaware Department of Education, will begin her tenure as CR superintendent on April 1, but she has a long history with the district.
The hiring was announced on the district’s website Friday.
Kevin Fitzgerald is stepping down on March 31 after 15 years as superintendent to take a position with the University of Delaware’s Academy of School Leadership.
“Dr. Alois was clearly the best candidate for the next superintendent of the Caesar Rodney School District,” said CR Board of Education President Mike Marasco in a press release. “Her experience in previous positions from the classroom to administration, and her state-level involvement in the educational process show she has the temperament and the drive to lead.”
She will be the first female superintendent in the district’s history.
Before taking the role as deputy secretary in the state department of education in 2018, Alois worked in the Caesar Rodney School District for 24 years, starting as a teacher in 1994. Next, she served as an English language arts resource teacher working with teachers and administrators, before being promoted to assistant principal at Stokes Elementary School and then principal.
In 2009, Alois was selected as the district’s supervisor of instruction, where she worked with students, teachers, administrators and families across all of the schools with a focus on secondary social studies and English language arts, world language/immersion K-12, English language learners, gifted education, instructional technology, teacher leaders and new teacher mentoring. Then in 2015 she was hired as director of curriculum and instruction.
“Caesar Rodney is my home,” Alois said in a press release. “My son graduated from the district. I spent 24 years in its classrooms and administrative offices, and I am honored to now have the opportunity to lead the district.”
She described the staff as hardworking, talented and passionate.
“I can’t wait to rejoin this team, and work together to support our students, families and Rider community,” she said.
Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Holodick thanked Alois for her leadership at the department, praising her for how she helped former Secretary of Education Susan Bunting transform the department into a support-focused agency.
“She brought to the state her first-hand experience in a district office to better understand the impact of state policies at the local level, using her knowledge to help the state improve its collaboration with districts and charter schools,” Holodick said.
During the past two years, Alois has led the department’s response to the pandemic, working with the Division of Public Health to develop COVID-19 guidance for schools.
“Christine is a leader who always thinks first about how decisions will affect students, families and educators,” said Holodick. “While I will be sorry to lose her at the department, I recognize how lucky the Caesar Rodney community will be to have her as their next superintendent.”
Alois received her undergraduate degree from Penn State University in elementary education, her master’s degree from Wesley College in middle childhood education and her doctorate from the University of Delaware in educational leadership.
Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.
