A familiar face throughout the District, Defino brings a strong background in instructional leadership, curriculum development, and professional learning to her new role. She has served as an assistant principal at Saugerties Junior-Senior High School, a professional learning leader, and a lead science teacher, helping to strengthen teaching and learning while supporting educators and students across the District.

In her new position, Defino will oversee curriculum, instruction, and assessment initiatives designed to support high-quality teaching and improve student achievement. She will work closely with administrators and teachers to strengthen instructional practices, develop curriculum, and support the district’s continued focus on student success.

“I am honored and humbled to be tasked with leading instructional work at Saugerties and am deeply proud of the progress we have made over the past six years,” Defino said. “Our District has been a beacon of instructional work, which we will continue to build on.”

Throughout her career, Defino has led districtwide professional learning in project-based learning, grading for equity, performance-based assessment, and curriculum development. She coordinated the New York State PLAN pilot, coached teachers, facilitated Superintendent’s Conference Day workshops, and helped implement New York State science standards across all grade levels. Before moving into administration, Defino founded Saugerties High School’s Science Research Program, developed the school’s Science Olympiad team, and taught STEM courses in both Saugerties and the New York City Department of Education.

Defino said her priorities will include building on the District’s existing academic initiatives, including the Science of Reading, efforts to improve student performance in literacy, math, and science, and high-quality, teacher-led professional learning. The district will also map out NY Inspires and define what a Portrait of a Graduate looks like at each grade level.

“I am most excited about the opportunity at hand with New York State’s gradual rollout of the New York Inspires plan,” Defino said. “Because of all of our ongoing academic initiatives and previous Portrait of a Graduate district work, we are poised to be creative and innovative with this rollout, rather than scramble to make a plan.”

"Ms. Defino has a proven track record of elevating the student experience to increase student voice, agency, and skills that align with the Portrait of a Graduate,” said Superintendent Dr. Gwendolyn Roraback. “As a result of her leadership with the PLAN Pilot and Presentations of Learning in the JRHS, we have become a leader in the region and NYS. She is the perfect leader to not only assist Saugerties CSD in aligning our work with NY Inspires, but also make us a leader in the state for the future."

Defino’s leadership extends beyond the District. She has served as a NASA Climate Change Research Initiative Fellow, received NASA’s Endeavor STEM Teaching Fellowship, participated in the Regeneron STEM Leadership Internship, and conducted scientific research through Columbia University. She has also presented at state and national conferences on science education, STEM leadership, and Deeper Learning.

As she begins her new leadership role, Defino looks forward to continuing to support students, staff, and families while advancing the district’s academic initiatives, strategic priorities, and vision for future-ready graduates.