Recently, the Patchogue-Medford School District has been navigating a period of transition and growth under the leadership of Interim Superintendent Lori Cannetti.
With a focus on collaboration, student success, and community connection, Cannetti has stepped into the role with both vision and dedication. In an exclusive interview, she shares her perspective on the district’s future, the challenges of stepping into her new position, and the goals she hopes to achieve in her term.
How do you plan to maintain stability while preparing the district for your leadership?
I’ve been a member of this community for over twenty-five years. I know the culture, the community, parents, students, and teachers. I think a lot of the intent of having me come in for the year was to keep that stability and the sense of comfort in the community as we prepare to transition into a new era. Giving a full year for the community to give input on who they would like to be the successor is really important. My long-term employment in the district will allow me to keep that stability.
What challenges have you identified so far and how have you addressed them or plan to?
I wouldn’t call them challenges, more so initiatives coming out. We have a lot of new things with the state education department and there are a lot of new changes coming over the next few weeks, and maybe years. Number one, we have the new Distraction Free Law that was adopted that we have worked with the community on, sending out a survey seeking feedback, and now implementing it. With a district our size that can be complicated and sophisticated and we want to make sure we get it right and open the school year on a positive note. Graduation will also look different over the next couple of years and that is something that we have to be very proactive on and make sure our courses and offerings are in alignment with the new state initiatives.
How do you prioritize student safety and well-being?
I do have three children myself, so I take that responsibility very seriously. You [students] are in our hands for a large portion of the day, and we want families to trust us. At the high school we have been actively using metal detectors each day, a huge investment as a community in purchasing state of the art metal detectors, and it has been going very smoothly. That is something we will continue to utilize this school year and probably expand to some of our middle schools.
What is your stance on technology integration in the classroom?
With cell phones, that’s a combination of physical safety and mental safety. A big reason for the cellphone ban is the fact that kids can’t disconnect from it, consuming their day and life. When I say social media, I don’t mean Schoology, I’m talking about Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. The ban is an opportunity for kids to be present in school and be active learners. For us, it’s making sure that kids are connected to their learning, and the cell phones will be there when the bell rings at the end of the day. I think it will also help some face-to-face interaction and social skills. There is a lot of research showing that disconnecting has increased attendance rates, decreased anxiety, and has been beneficial for academic performance. I think our students are going to rise to the occasion.
How will you ensure transparency in decision making while serving your term?
Transparency is really important. I think one of the things I have found important in my career as an administrator is honesty. So, when we are communicating with our families, we have to be very honest. Sometimes that means saying “hey this happened, and this is what we are going to do to fix it moving forward.” I think ParentSquare has helped us to get messages out to our community a lot quicker. It is important to be out there in public speaking to your community. Instead of hosting a forum, I could’ve easily written a letter, but it is important to be out there in public speaking to everyone directly and answering their questions. I prioritize being visible in the community, being active, and making sure I am sending communication out on a regular basis.
How do you keep up with the changing educational policies at the state and federal level?
Just because we are in administration doesn’t mean we aren’t learning, a big part is constantly reading. I stay updated and regularly attend meetings with other superintendents where we receive information from the state. I also have a network with local superintendents where we meet monthly and discuss topics related to education and we talk and share resources.
How do you plan on involving students in conversations about their education?
I know that there is an ex-officio officer that sits on our board, and I recently met with her and the president of the senior class. He was curious about changes to the grading policy and updates, and I told him I would love to sit in on one of the meetings. I would like to meet with the General Organization and the senior class to share and answer questions. We try to give out surveys to students to get feedback and the previous ex-officio officer and I worked together to craft those surveys. I love working with children because they are very honest and have really great advice and feedback. We have several board committees open to students, and we are working to try and get a better turnout for those.
What is your vision for the district’s future beyond your interim role?
My vision is to make sure that this community and I turn the role over to the hands of someone who is as passionate and loves it as much as I have for the past several years. Pat-Med is family to me and it’s really important that someone takes over and that will take it and really excel. We are on the cutting edge of other districts whether that be our CTE program, or our very rigorous AP programs where we offer almost every AP exam. We have great music programs, great physical education and athletic programs and have been working on construction to our buildings. We have a lot to be proud of, and I just want someone to really be as committed to this district as I have been for the past twenty-five years. It deserves that.
How do you prioritize student achievement alongside the SEL approach?
One of the things we do often is look at data, it is important to us to see how our students are performing. It’s not just how they are performing in Pat-Med but also how we are performing in Suffolk County. We want to ensure that our students are exposed to the same high-quality education that other students get in Suffolk County. However, I do think we also try to do a lot with our students to make sure that academics is just one piece of what defines you. We want to make sure that kids have a break and get to go to clubs and get to participate in after school sports, intramural, music and have exposure to other resources than just going to class. We require students not to take nine straight academic periods because kids need a break. It also comes with working with our guidance staff and making sure kids know that we want them to take what interests them while also making time for nonacademic interests. We have a Wellness Center where kids can go where they just need a break, and a good team of guidance counselors and social workers who are very present and a great support for our students.
Tell us about your academic career from math teacher to interim superintendent.
I graduated as a math teacher and spent several years teaching mostly middle school math. Then I went back to school to become an administrator. Once I had my first daughter, I had my degree to be an administrator and landed a job here in Pat-Med in 1999. I started as an assistant principal at Saxton Middle School and upon receiving tenure I was appointed as the principal at Oregon Middle School. After my third child I requested to go to elementary school, so I moved to Canaan and became principal there. I then left Pat-Med and went to BOCES and did work there. When I returned here, I went to the central office and became the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and I’ve been here since then. I’ve done fifteen years as the assistant superintendent for instruction and am now serving as the interim superintendent.
As the district moves forward, Lori Cannetti’s leadership provides both stability and a fresh perspective during this time of transition. Her focus on fostering student success, supporting educators, and building a strong sense of community reflects her commitment to the future of the district. While her role as interim superintendent may be temporary, the vision and values she brings to the position are sure to leave a lasting impact.
