RCS Welcome
A message from Superintendent Nicholas Russo
Welcome to the 2024-25 school year!
It is truly an honor to join and lead a community that values educational excellence. As I begin my service with the district, I wanted to provide a brief introduction so you can start to get to know me, my philosophy and my background.
My career in education encompasses more than 26 years, which includes 15 years of diverse experience as an executive and building administrator, and 11 years serving students in the classroom.
I attended the University of Michigan, earning an educational specialist degree in executive leadership; Wayne State for my master’s degree, and Michigan State for my bachelor’s degree.
My leadership approach prioritizes collaboration, inclusivity and responsiveness to the needs of our school community. I am committed to fostering environments where both students and staff can thrive, advocating for inclusion and equal access for all.
I believe that relationships remain at the core of teaching and learning and are the foundation for student success. Our highly skilled teachers, administrators and staff continue to nurture these relationships, while focusing on instructional best practices, to maximize learning.
As we begin the 2024-25 school year, students, teachers, administrators, staff and community members can anticipate an invitation to engage in opportunities that support a “listen and learn” platform. Through communication, collaboration and interaction with all members of our school community, I look forward to learning about your perspectives and gaining a better understanding of your interests and involvement in our schools.
High-performing school districts have several things in common:
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They are led by strong, student-centered, and cohesive leadership teams.
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They have a culture of acceptance, belonging and purpose.
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They have student success and the student experience at the core of the mission and vision.
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They are fiscally responsible and employ systems, operations and personnel that create an environment for high-quality teaching and learning.
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And they value community connections, which are vital to the engagement, enrollment and ultimately the success of the district.
As we look to the future, I am fully committed to ensuring Rochester Community Schools remains a high-performing, student-centered school district.
A History of Excellence
Rochester Community Schools has a rich history that dates back to 1821, when townships with 50 families or more were required to have a schoolmaster. At that time, it was generally assumed that three months of schooling was reasonable. In 1889, the original school building was built at Fourth Street and Wilcox. In 1916, the first high school was built on the same site, which currently serves as the Administration Center. At present, the Rochester Community School District includes 523 acres of property encompassing 66 square miles primarily within the City of Rochester, the City of Rochester Hills, and Oakland Charter Township. The district employs approximately 1,500 staff members.
Superintendent Cabinet
- Nicholas Russo, Superintendent
- Dr. Neil DeLuca, Deputy Superintendent
- Pasquale Cusumano, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary and Adult Education
- Kimberly Hempton, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
- Matthew McDaniel, Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations
- Dave Murphy, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
- Tiffany Gauthier, Executive Director of Special Education
- Lori Grein, Executive Director of Strategic Communications