The Nassau BOCES Board of Education has named Dr. Kenneth Kroog its new Assistant Director of the Department of Special Education. The role is a natural extension of the critical work Dr. Kroog has been doing over the past four years as Executive Manager of Special Education.

Dr. Kroog joined Nassau BOCES in 2017 as a supervisor of special education, in which capacity he coordinated instruction and assessment initiatives for eleven different schools and programs. He served as a liaison to directors of special education from all 56 Nassau County school districts and conducted New York State Alternate Assessment training for educators across Long Island.

“Dr. Kroog brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this new role. We know he will continue to do an exceptional job,” said Dr. Robert R. Dillon, Nassau BOCES Superintendent.

Dr. Kroog soon advanced into the role of Executive Manager of Special Education, overseeing all curriculum, assessment, technology and data initiatives for the entire department, and ensuring programs were compliant with the New York State Education Department in all subject areas and at all grade levels. He coordinated state testing and supervised transition activities in all schools. Additionally, he used data to help improve professional learning; provided guidance and support to administrators in implementing department initiatives; and analyzed student data to increase student achievement.

He recently earned his doctorate degree from Fordham University. His dissertation is titled, “The Effects of Virtual Professional Learning on Teacher Self-Efficacy and Student Achievement.”

“In my work as a district leader, I believe in cultivating a culture of learning among the professionals in our department and its schools. Sustained and ongoing professional learning in cooperation with one another is a high leverage driver for raising the achievement of all students,” says Dr. Kenneth Kroog, Nassau BOCES Assistant Director of Special Education

Prior to joining Nassau BOCES, Dr. Kroog spent eight years in the New York City school system. He began as a special education teacher, before being promoted to the role of unit coordinator, in charge of the daily operations of a special education school with more than a hundred students classified with autism, multiple disabilities, hearing impairment or emotional behavioral disabilities.

Dr. Kroog is certified in severe or multiple disabilities, therapeutic crisis intervention, and as a school district and school building leader. He holds advanced certification in educational leadership from Stony Brook University, and in autism or severe/multiple disabilities from Pace University. He earned his doctorate in educational leadership and policy at Fordham University. He holds two master’s degrees: one in developmental psychology from Boston College, the second in teaching childhood and special education from Pace University. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston College.