The Hendrick Hudson School District welcomed Superintendent Tromblee in October as the new face of leadership, superseding Interim Superintendent, Dr. Dennis Lauro. “I want the student experience to be at the center of every decision the district makes,” said Mr. Tromblee, regarding his goals for the district. “My job in the first year is to listen, learn, help, and then lead.”
Tromblee carries a wealth of experience in education, previously serving as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Learning at the Mahopac Central School District. His position at Mahopac exposed him to district leadership and its complexities. “I was primarily responsible for working with the district on implementing what students are to learn and understanding how they learn, as well as supporting teachers to hone their craft.”
Tromblee began his career in education as a teacher, instructing U.S. History at both the Regents and AP levels. However, even before a career in education, Mr. Tromblee served in the U.S Air Force, following in the footsteps of his family, which has served the country dating back to the American Revolution.
“When I came back from deployment in Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia, I had a couple of different pathways; I could become a drill instructor, I could go for programs that would take me to the Air Force Academy…instead, I chose to become a teacher.”
After deciding on an education career, Tromblee earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Teacher Education at Minnesota State University, Mankato; a Masters in Education at New York Institute of Technology; and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership and Administration at Stony Brook University Graduate School.
Mr. Tromblee hopes to bring the values and structure he learned during his tenure in the military to the district. “The military didn’t teach me discipline; it pulled the discipline I had within me to the surface,” he explained. That application has been invaluable to his success in the education sector thus far. Equating the role of an educator and that of the military, which he considers “the apex of public service,” the two seemingly opposite fields have blended smoothly and successfully for Mr. Tromblee.
With this military experience in mind, Tromblee appreciated the “civic-mindedness” shown throughout the interview process for the position at Hendrick Hudson, citing the district’s mission statement (“to ensure each student is an engaged, passionate learner who achieves their maximum potential and contributes to society”) as closely tied to his own values.
Student-centered education is the center of Mr. Tromblee’s agenda for Hendrick Hudson. “It is my goal that students will take an active part in their learning, and I hope that our educators support that environment for them,” he explained.
Upon entering the role, Tromblee was careful not to step on the toes of his predecessors, citing the positive qualities of the district as well as a desire to improve district relations with the community. “I chose to apply for the job because I liked something about the district. Why would you come into a place and say ‘Let’s change everything!’ without fully understanding what is and isn’t working?”
Mr. Tromblee recognizes that the community plays a crucial role in the success of students and the district as a whole. “The community values the school deeply; everybody has the students’ best interest in mind; that rings true in every question I’ve been asked, every event I’ve attended, and everything I’ve been asked to look into,” he stated. It has been clear that from the start that immersion into the community has been another of Mr Tromblee’s focuses. His attendance at the Haunted High School, as well as football games and the recent “Breakfast with Frosty,” contribute to a sense of connection within the community.
As for what he hopes to bring to the district in the future, Tromblee gave a refreshingly honest answer:
“I don’t have a solid answer on a specific plan. I would love to have a catchy title and a catchy phrase to brand my initiative. What I can say is that I know how imperative this is, and my goal is to listen and try to make those connections to lead from a point of openness.”
Something he did note was his desire to create a “Student Advisory Board,” a group of students across all grades and backgrounds at the high school to work with him on district-wide issues. “I want to give students a voice directly to understand what they like and what they think needs to be changed,” he explained. He hopes that this would provide students and the district with an opportunity to further enhance the student-centered initiative by more directly communicating with students.
Mr. Tromblee seeks to rebuild the district’s relationship with the community, especially as the district moves forward from the difficult years during the pandemic. “People are very passionate about their schools; I see this as care and concern for our most precious resources: our children.”
Superintendent Tromblee brings a unique blend of military and education backgrounds to his leadership style at Hen Hud. Emphasizing a student-centered approach, he aims to listen, learn, and lead with openness, recognizing the importance of community involvement. With a focus on building connections, increasing student engagement, and revitalizing community-district relationships, Mr. Tromblee envisions a bright future for the district where the community and administration can operate in tandem to provide a quality education for the students of Hen Hud.
