Last night, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Interim Superintendent Todd Hilgendorff was appointed as Superintendent of Schools for Hudson City School District, beginning July 13, 2026.

For the past 13 years, Mr. Hilgendorff has held several leadership positions at Greenville Central School District, including High School Principal, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Assistant Superintendent for Business, and Interim Superintendent. His expertise in instructional leadership, operations, and finance has kept our district running smoothly for the past decade. Though his titles have changed over the years, his commitment to supporting students and fostering their success has remained a constant.

Mr. Hilgendorff has played a key role in shaping our district. He established the school improvement process and State-accredited CTE pathways, and led the development of our mission, vision, and brand identity. He managed our most recent capital project, ensuring its timely and cost-effective completion. Most notably, he has been a constant source of support for teachers by aligning district finances to provide necessary classroom resources.

Recently, he received an Outstanding School Administrator Recognition Award from the New York State FFA. As part of this honor, the Sr. FFA Advisors shared, “What makes Todd's support especially meaningful is that he doesn't just advocate for our program from behind a desk - he gets involved. He has stepped into our classrooms to work directly with students, including joining our CTE 6 class to teach a lesson on leadership. Armed with hula hoops, sticky notes, and plenty of enthusiasm, he engaged students in activities that challenged them to think, collaborate, and grow as leaders. It was a reminder that, at heart, Todd is still an educator who enjoys connecting with students and helping them succeed.”

Thank you, Mr. Hilgendorff, for devoting the majority of your career to our school and community, and for embodying our mission to create a place where everyone learns, teaches, and belongs. We wish you continued success as you begin the next chapter of your career at Hudson City School District.

Below is a message that Mr. Hilgendorff shared with faculty and staff about his departure:

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of joining Greenville students at the New York State FFA Convention. This year, Greenville was represented by two teams and an individual student. As the students waited for their turn to enter the competition room, I was struck by the unique moment they were experiencing. There was a palpable sense of nervous energy as they anticipated the challenge ahead. I watched as they balanced excitement about demonstrating the knowledge and skills they had worked so hard to develop with the uncertainty of how they would perform. For some, it was their first experience competing at this level; for others, it was a familiar opportunity built upon years of preparation. Regardless of experience, each student was stepping outside of their comfort zone, supported by teammates, advisors, and peers who encouraged them every step of the way. Despite their nervous energy, when the doors to their competition room opened, they entered with confidence, heads held high and ready to meet the challenge before them.

A short time later, the students emerged from the competition room with smiles on their faces and words of encouragement for one another. As they debriefed their performances, they reflected on what had gone well and where they could have improved. What stood out to me was not whether they thought they had performed perfectly, but the way they supported one another through the experience. They celebrated successes, learned from challenges, and recognized that growth often comes from taking risks and embracing opportunities that push us beyond what is comfortable.

After sharing this experience with the students, I remarked to the educators who were present that every student deserves opportunities that build skills such as planning, resilience, collaboration, and reflection while encouraging them to step beyond their comfort zone. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that this lesson applies to adults as well. It aligns closely with our mission of supporting learning, teaching, and belonging, not only for our students, but for one another.

With that in mind, I want to share that a new door has opened for me. Much like our FFA members preparing to enter the competition room, I find myself experiencing a mix of excitement, gratitude, and nervous energy as I prepare for a new chapter in my career and life. Last night, the Hudson City School District Board of Education appointed me as its next Superintendent of Schools, a role I will begin on July 13. My formal resignation from Greenville CSD will be on the June 22 board meeting agenda.

As I reflect on my time at Greenville and prepare to say farewell, I would like to share a few thoughts about how deeply I have valued, and will always honor, the opportunity to work alongside such an extraordinary group of educators, staff, students, families, and community members.

Learn. Greenville has provided me with meaningful opportunities to grow as both a person and a leader. As someone who embraces challenges and is always eager to learn, I have sought to understand all aspects of our district and the interconnection between the instructional and operational systems that contribute to student success. In each role I have held, I have looked for opportunities to learn from those around me and have come to appreciate the remarkable expertise that exists across our campus. Regardless of my title, I have approached my work with a commitment to learning, reflection, and continuous improvement. The lessons I have gained from this community will continue to shape my leadership long into the future.

Teach. I believe leadership carries with it a responsibility to teach, mentor, and create opportunities for others to grow. Throughout my time in Greenville, I have worked to build the capacity of those around me through professional learning, teacher leadership development, and continuous improvement efforts. More importantly, I hope that I have led by example, with integrity and respect serving as my guiding principles. I have sought to demonstrate the importance of establishing a shared vision, using evidence to understand our progress toward that vision, and committing ourselves to the hard work necessary to better serve students. Some of the work I am most proud of is not what I accomplished individually, but what we accomplished together.

Belong. From the beginning of my time in Greenville, I have felt a profound sense of belonging. That feeling has been shaped through collaboration with colleagues, problem-solving alongside staff, and meaningful interactions with students and families. It is reflected in a note from a student who felt supported during a difficult time, a graduate who returned to share how Greenville impacted their life, a staff member offering thanks for being encouraged, and the way our school community comes together to support one another during times of challenge and loss. It is present in the relationships built among colleagues and in the moments that unite us as a school community. I have also experienced this sense of belonging personally through the kindness, support, and care shown by colleagues during times of loss in my own life. Those experiences reinforced for me that Greenville is more than a school district; it is a community. The relationships I have built and the memories we have shared will remain with me long after I say goodbye.

Thank you for allowing me to learn, to teach, and most importantly, to belong. Serving the Greenville Central School District for the past 13 years has been one of the greatest privileges of my professional life. While I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead, a part of Greenville will always travel with me. I am profoundly grateful for the friendships, support, and shared commitment to students that have defined my time here.