Please Meet: Amityville’s school superintendent, Dr. Brian De Sorbe

Iÿtry to get out of my office every day and go into the schools to see the patterns and routines people are using; to see the teaching of children and to understand what the expectations are. Dr. Brian De Sorbe

by Carolyn James

The first step to bringing about constructive change has to be taken with an open mind and a clear vision. And, an element of trust between everyone who is part of the process.

But before any of that can happen, a good administrator has to put in the footwork, or as Dr. Brian De Sorbe, Amityville School District’s new Superintendent of Schools describes it, "the walkabout."

"I have to get into the schools and see what is going on," said De Sorbe who stepped into that position officially October 1. "I am a stranger here and what I have to do is build trust; people have to ultimately understand that they can trust me and know that what we are doing is helping children."

De Sorbe speaks with enthusiasm about his new job and said he understands the challenges facing him and the community—poor test scores, racial divisions and poor morale—but adds that all of those can be met by a school district and a community that recognizes its work is about helping children learn and succeed.

"The focus is not on adults, it is on the children and my part is to help make it better for students," said De Sorbe in a recent interview. "Without students, there is no reason to have a school district."

De Sorbe comes to Amityville from the Wyandanch School District, a district that faces many of the problems Amityville faces. He worked there as an administrator and "trouble shooter" straightening out major scheduling problems in the high school and helping the staff there to be more effective and productive.

"I try to get out of my office every day and go into the schools to see the patterns and routines people are using; to see the teaching of children and to understand what the expectations are," said De Sorbe.

"He has a pleasant personality and is open to new ideas," said Dr. David Gee, the superintendent of Western Suffolk BOCES who knew Dr. De Sorbe from Wyandanch. "Over the years he was in charge of curriculum and development in Wyandanch he looked to us for help and assistance and attended many of the monthly meetings we held for superintendents."

Gee said that Amityville, like some other districts in the Western Suffolk BOCES system has unique problems associated with its high-taxed, low-wealth status. De Sorbe, he added, has the background to address those problems. "A lot of work needs to be done but he is a person who knows how to work cooperatively with the community, the staff and the school board," said Gee, "so I am sure he will be successful."

De Sorbe taught education in Dowling College. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree at the State University of New York at Cortland and a professional degree in educational administration at Hofstra. He has a Ph.D in educational administration from New York University.

Robert Morris, a former principal in the Hauppauge School District who worked with De Sorbe agrees that he is a good administrator.

"He has a tremendous feeling for people, but his best characteristic is that he has a tremendous heart," said Morris of Babylon Village. "As my assistant principal, he was always bringing forth things that needed to be done to solve problems. He had the people skills to bring faculty together and build morale, which is key."

No where are those skills more needed, perhaps, than in facing the district’s stalled construction project at Park Avenue. De Sorbe said he is convinced that the school board has the project under control. "I am looking forward to working closely with the board and community in moving forward and having the district meet its deadline for completion," he said.

De Sorbe signed a three-year contract with the district, expiring September 30, 2005. His salary is $155,000 a year, through September, 2003. For each year subsequent, any salary increase above that will be based upon performance and determined by the Board no later than June 15 of each year. The contract also gives De Sorbe an annual $2,500 tax deferred annuity contribution, family health insurance coverage with 90 percent paid by the district, dental insurance and 22 paid vacation days annually.

Dr. De Sorbe lives in Smithtown with his wife Barbara, an Administrative Assistant with Supreme Court Justice John Copertino.

"I think we have a good balance," he said. "Not too much education and not too much law."