Bryna Moritz-Booth

SOUTH DAYTON — The Pine Valley Central School District has found its next superintendent.

The Pine Valley School Board of Education appointed Bryna Moritz-Booth to the superintendent position at a meeting Wednesday. Booth’s appointment becomes effective Dec. 1, under a three and a half year contract. Booth’s placement at Pine Valley will serve as a homecoming of sorts as she previously attended elementary and middle school in the district.

“It definitely formed who I am today,” Booth told The Post-Journal.

Booth is currently the pre-K-12 principal and director of special education in the Sherman Central School District where she began as an elementary teacher 11 years ago. During her tenure, she has been an administrator for six years and the principal for four years.

Pine Valley has been operating with interim Superintendent James Przepasniak at the helm during the 2019-20 school year after Scott Payne, former superintendent, officially left the district to become the superintendent of Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES. Earlier this month, the board and several hiring committees had narrowed down the superintendent search to three finalists.

“Mrs. Booth has an outstanding record of administrative experience – having served in a multitude of roles with amazing outcomes for students. Her energy and commitment to the Pine Valley school community, coupled with her educational leadership and willingness to engage stakeholders, will serve our students and community well,” said board president Jeffrey Chase in a statement.

Booth is certified in childhood education and special education from the State University of New York at Fredonia and earned her master’s degree from Western Governors University in special education. Additionally, she received a master’s degree in educational leadership from St. Bonaventure University.

A primary reason she applied to Pine Valley was the “family” atmosphere of the small school setting that she had grown accustomed to at Sherman. And during the interview process at Pine Valley, she “fell in love with the district.”

The interview process was comprised of several committees, one of which was a group of students.

Booth described her interaction with her new students as “phenomenal.”

Six years ago, Booth said she envisioned herself becoming a superintendent one day, and now she “can’t wait to get started.”