Rochester City School District
Media Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 15, 2020
Editor Contact:
Carlos Garcia
585.262.8351 (o)
585.435.1296 (m)
Superintendent Myers-Small
Announces Three New Appointments in RCSD
Positions include Deputy Superintendent for Student Support Services, Deputy Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, and Interim Chief Financial Officer
Melody Martinez-Davis: Deputy Superintendent for Student Support Services. Start Date: 7/1/20
 
During her 25 years in education, Melody Martinez-Davis has served as a Principal, Assistant Principal, and Spanish teacher at all levels across varied demographics. Throughout her school administration career, she has led many initiatives that made a tremendous impact on students in the Brockport community. She led the implementation of Digital Readiness, school learning and management systems, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports. During the 2019-2020 school year, Ms. Martinez-Davis served as the faculty advisor for A.D. Oliver Middle School’s BOSS (Bettering Ourselves Through Sisterhood and Service) program. BOSS is a collaboration with members of the Women of Color Empowerment Club at the College at Brockport that was formed with the dedication to providing young minority students with mentors who share their experiences as women of color. She also led the creation of master schedules, supervised the building Crisis Response Teams, and is a representative in the district’s Grief, Illness, and Trauma Team (TIG). Under her leadership, social emotional learning has been at the forefront of strategic planning and professional development plans.
 
After relocating to Rochester from Puerto Rico, Ms. Martinez-Davis earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with a minor in Spanish Language and Civilization at the College at Brockport. She continued her studies at Nazareth College, earning a Master of Science Degree, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration and Supervision from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She also completed the New York State Council of School Superintendents Leadership for Educational Achievement Foundation Future Superintendents Academy Development Program. Currently, she is pursuing her doctoral degree at the University of Buffalo in Education Administration.
Dr. Genelle Morris, Deputy Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. Start Date: 8/3/20

Dr. Genelle Morris has spent nearly 30 years in urban education. She has worked in varying roles in education, including science instruction, curriculum, assessment development, accountability, research, and evaluation. Most recently, Dr. Morris was the Chief Accountability Officer/Chief Information Officer for the Buffalo Public Schools, where she was responsible for accountability, assessment, research, and evaluation of system-wide goals and targets. She began her career as an AP Biology teacher with the Buffalo Public Schools and has also served as Assistant Superintendent of Shared Accountability, Director of Data Analysis, Supervisor of Data Analysis, Principal, Assistant Principal.
 
Dr. Morris earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University at Buffalo. She additionally earned a Master’s Degree and Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership and Policy and a Master’s Degree in Science Education from the University at Buffalo.
Carleen Pierce, Interim Chief Financial Officer. Start Date: Effective immediately

In addition to her appointment as the District's Interim Chief Financial Officer, Carleen Pierce is currently the Chief Financial Officer of the East Educational Partnership Organization (EPO). Superintendent Dr. Lesli Myers-Small and East Superintendent Dr. Shaun Nelms have agreed to an arrangement where Ms. Pierce will be assigned 80% of her time at RCSD and 20% of her time at East until a permanent CFO for RCSD is appointed.
 
Ms. Pierce has served as the CFO of East since 2017, where she not only is responsible for the financial matters of the EPO but also acts as a liaison with the District's Human Resources Department on all personnel matters. Prior to joining East, Ms. Pierce worked at the Canandaigua City School District for several years in various capacities, including the Director of Human Resources and the Assistant Superintendent for Business.

Ms. Pierce also worked for JP Morgan Chase for approximately 15 years in multiple capacities, such as Private Banking, Small Business, Corporate Commercial Lending, and Production Support Management.

Ms. Pierce attended Nazareth College of Rochester and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Science. She continued her lifelong love for learning by earning a Master’s Degree in Education, a Permanent Certificate of Advanced Studies in School Business Administration, and a Permanent Certificate of Advanced Studies in School District Leadership from the College at Brockport.  
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