Pittsford board appoints Shana Cataya as superintendent; Michael Piero to retire Dec. 1

The Pittsford Central School District Board of Education voted to appoint Shana Cataya as the district’s next superintendent and approved her employment contract, board members said at the June meeting.

The selection follows Superintendent Michael Piero’s announcement that he will retire effective Dec. 1, 2025. Piero told the board he has agreed to remain through January as deputy superintendent to assist with the transition and to oversee the business office while the assistant superintendent for business is on medical leave.

The board described an internal search process that began after Piero indicated his intent to retire. The board said it consulted with Monroe County school leaders and followed professional-development guidance from the Monroe County School Boards Association in preparing for a superintendent search. President Scott introduced Cataya to the board: “With that, we present to you the next superintendent of Pittsford Schools … That person is Shana Cataya.”

Cataya’s background presented at the meeting notes a 2003 start in the district as a social studies teacher at Barker Road Middle School, subsequent roles as assistant principal and principal, and service since 2021 as the district’s director of student services. The board summarized her responsibilities in that director role to include oversight of health and safety, counseling, nursing services, registration and enrollment records, and social-emotional supports. The board also listed academic credentials presented during the selection process, including a bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education, a master’s in educational leadership, and certifications in school district administration and human-resources management; the board noted participation in leadership programs in 2023–24.

Board members moved to appoint Cataya and approved the motion and contract during the meeting; the board announced the vote carried and the contract was approved. The board emphasized that Cataya will assume the superintendent role on Dec. 1, 2025 and that the board has confidence in her institutional knowledge and experience.

The immediate next steps the board outlined include finalizing Cataya’s transition plan, scheduling onboarding and handover work during December, and Piero’s continuing role through January to assist with business-office coverage and the leadership transition.

Clarifying details announced at the meeting include the Dec. 1, 2025 effective date for Cataya’s appointment, Piero’s remaining on as deputy superintendent through January 2026, and that the board’s selection process prioritized an internal candidate and included professional development with Monroe County school leadership.