Deborah Wortham

Dr. Deborah Wortham is an accomplished educational leader with a distinguished career spanning over four decades. She most recently served as the Superintendent of Schools for the Roosevelt Union Free School District in New York from October 2020 to July 2024.1 This was her second stint at Roosevelt, having previously led the district from 2013 to 2015.1

Dr. Wortham's career highlights include:

1. Transforming school districts: She has a reputation for turning around struggling school systems. During her first tenure at Roosevelt, she helped move the district from "State Takeover" to "Good Standing".3

2. Leadership roles: Prior to her latest position at Roosevelt, Dr. Wortham served as Superintendent of the East Ramapo Central School District from 2015 to 2020, where she successfully improved the standing of all 12 K-8 schools.31

3. Extensive experience: Her career includes superintendent positions in Pennsylvania and a long tenure with Baltimore City Public Schools.1

4. Recognition: Dr. Wortham was selected as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Educators in New York in 2020 and received the AASA 2024 Women in Leadership as Superintendent Award.1

5. Author and speaker: She is a best-selling co-author and a nationally recognized lecturer, often speaking on educational leadership topics.3

6. Educational background: Dr. Wortham holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Morgan State University.1

Throughout her career, Dr. Wortham has been known for her people-driven approach to education, emphasizing the importance of student, teacher, and community voices in the decision-making process.2 Her leadership philosophy is centered on creating a seamless curriculum aligned with state standards and implementing regular assessments to track student progress.2

As she retired in July 2024, Dr. Wortham left a lasting legacy of educational transformation and improvement in the districts she served.45