Superintendent's Message
July 13, 2026
Hello Southern Cayuga students, staff, and families,
July is finally here and stepping into the role as Superintendent of Schools has been an exciting and memorable experience. Since my appointment with the Board of Education in April, I have been doing everything I can to be ready for this responsibility. The staff and students I have met so far have been welcoming and a wealth of knowledge on helping me understand everything that makes Southern Cayuga the special place that it is.
As the summer continues, please feel free to stop by the District Office and say hello. The more I hear from our community, the better prepared I will be to lead the district in the fall. Over the summer, we have lots of work to do. Our teachers and administrators are working on plans to implement in the new school year. No doubt these plans are being carefully constructed to have tremendous positive impact on our students. I would like to send a special thank you to our custodians and grounds crew. This is a very busy time for the people that care for our buildings and grounds, and their work does not go unnoticed.
The biggest responsibilities I have as superintendent are to clearly communicate and to lead and sustain positive improvements for our entire school community. To meet these responsibilities, I am committed to working collaboratively with all of you. Over these first few months on the job, my focus will be to simply listen and learn. As the school year begins in September, I will be in our classrooms and hallways, meeting as many students and staff as possible. The Southern Cayuga schools are full of pride, and I am quickly learning about the people and programs that make our schools such an incredible place for our students to grow and learn. Please be on the lookout for communication from our principals and the main office of Emily Howland Elementary and the Jr/Sr High School.
I look forward to meeting you at school, on the fields, and after school events. Thank you for the warm welcome. I am honored to serve as your Superintendent.
Sincerely,
John J. Lawrence, Superintedent
Southern Cayuga Central Schools
