The Spencerport Board of Education named Phillip Langton as the district's new superintendent on November 21. Langton, currently superintendent at Manchester-Shortsville (Red Jacket) Central Schools, is expected to assume his new position by the beginning of February. Langton replaces Dr. Richard Timbs, who is now district superintendent for Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES.

Langton has a broad range of school leadership experience. He has been superintendent at Manchester-Shortsville, a district with 1,100 students, since 1993. Prior to that he was executive director (assistant superintendent) of instruction in the North Syracuse school district from 1989 to 1993. He was an elementary school principal in Pittsford from 1985 to 1989. As superintendent at Manchester-Shortsville, Langton has led the district in the completion of a capital project that has provided the district with new science classrooms, a gymnasium, a library-media center and an upgrade of infrastructure. He also has directed and overseen the implementation of a comprehensive middle school program; established a program of advanced placement course; increased the percentage of graduates receiving Regents diplomas; and implemented an extensive district technology plan.

In the first few months, Langton plans to meet extensively with the community, faculty, staff and administrators to gather in-depth information about the district. He says the capital project and continuing to improve scores on the state assessments will be two main priorities.

"We had several strong candidates," says School Board President Larry Fenity, "but Phil Langton really stood out as our first choice. He is a strong leader with a track record of success."

Langton was chosen from a pool of 38 national candidates in a comprehensive search process headed by BOCES 2 Superintendent C. Tod Eagle. The candidate pool was narrowed down to six semi-finalists. District residents attended a public forum to help develop a superintendent profile that guided the search. In addition, three committees comprised of board members, district residents, and staff interviewed the semi-finalists. The board hosted community receptions for the three finalists.

Langton is married with three adult daughters and four grandchildren all living in the Rochester area. His wife, Gail Langton, is the new director of English language arts at Hilton Central Schools. Details of Langton's contract, including the actual start date, are pending negotiations.