Cairo-Durham Appoints Dr. Dotan Schips as Next Superintendent

CAIRO — The Cairo-Durham Central School District Board of Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Dotan Schips, the current Deputy Superintendent, as the district’s next Superintendent of Schools. He will succeed current Superintendent Michael Wetherbee, who announced plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year following a distinguished 30-year career in education.

“I am incredibly proud of what our students and staff achieve together every day,” said Wetherbee in his letter to the Cairo-Durham community in January. 

“On behalf of the Board of Education, we extend our sincere gratitude to Superintendent Wetherbee for his years of dedicated service to the Cairo-Durham Central School District. His quality leadership, guidance, and understanding of what students need has led to the many contributions made to our students, staff, and the community,” said Board President Elizabeth Daly. 

“We were looking for a leader who knows our staff, understands our challenges, and puts students first. Given the tremendous, unified support from our teachers and staff, it was clear that Dr. Schips is the right person to lead our district forward. He has been an integral part of the Cairo-Durham Central School District for seven years, demonstrating exceptional leadership as Middle School Principal, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, and Deputy Superintendent. His enthusiasm for our students and their learning is infectious,” the Board of Education said. 

“He has a proven track record of fostering teacher-led initiatives, improving curriculum, and supporting classroom needs. As an internal candidate, he brings an intimate understanding of our district's goals and community, ensuring a seamless transition and continuity in our strategic goals and plans. We are excited to appoint Dr. Schips to this position, and look forward to the future,” said Board Vice President Brian Coletti. The Board formally appointed Dr. Schips as the next Superintendent of Schools on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. 

In his role as Deputy Superintendent, he has prioritized student wellness by implementing professional learning communities and emphasizing internal professional development for Cairo-Durham CSD educators. Prior to his current role, he served as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction from 2022 to 2025, and principal of Cairo-Durham Middle School from 2019 to 2022. Earlier in his career, Dr. Schips served as Building Principal at Warren Street Academy and as an English Language Arts teacher at the New Lebanon Jr./Sr. High School. 

Dr. Schips holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Russell Sage College, a Master of Science in Education from Syracuse University, with a focus on teaching English Language Arts in grades 7 through 12, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Albany. He is certified in New York State as a school district and school building leader, as well as a secondary education teacher. 

“Serving the Cairo-Durham community over the past seven years has been the most rewarding chapter of my career,” Schips said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such talented educators and a supportive Board of Education in service of our outstanding students. I look forward to continuing this work with our community as we advance our shared commitment to expanding opportunities and ensuring high levels of learning and success for every student.”