Rye City School District families will see 23 new faces in classrooms and counseling offices when schools reopen for the 2026-27 year, with hires spanning all five buildings and covering subjects from physics and Latin to special education and mental health support.

The cohort, announced by the district, includes classroom teachers, school counselors, a school psychologist, a social worker and a speech-language pathologist. Rye High School is adding the largest share with 13 new staff members, followed by Rye Middle School with seven. Osborn School is gaining two hires, while Milton and Midland schools each add one.

Several bring unconventional resumes. David Windmueller, one of two new physics teachers at Rye High, spent more than 20 years in the technology industry with leadership roles at Google, Bloomberg and NASA before entering education.

He also served in the U.S. Navy. The other, Mike Evans, spent 14 years teaching AP Physics at Hicksville High School and helped expand that school's Advanced Placement program.

That's more than half the cohort at one building.

Stephen Russo, the new science research teacher, worked as an environmental engineer and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama before teaching 14 years in New York City public schools.

He holds a bachelor's degree from Cornell University. Tim O'Brien, a retired Hastings High School teacher joining Rye High for the first semester as a social studies leave replacement, taught AP U.S. History, AP European History and Economics for 15 years. He holds a Georgetown foreign service degree and a Fordham law degree.

At Rye Middle School, French teacher Pamela Aucoin brings more than 15 years of world language experience, including eight years teaching French immersion in the Toronto District School Board. Latin teacher Dominic Guazzo, science teacher Sophia Gelard, speech-language pathologist Mia Verrigni and Special Education ICT teacher Benjamin North round out that building's new arrivals.

Four of the 23 hires already worked in the district during 2025-26 in leave replacement or clinical roles: school counselors Elizabeth Saporito, Scott Milliken and Gabrielle Thomas, and social worker Andrea Diaz.

Three positions in the cohort are explicitly full-year leave replacements rather than permanent appointments: Diana Trinchitella at Milton School, O'Brien at Rye High and art teacher Tracy Saracino at Rye High.

The board approved six new mentor appointments for incoming hires and three for grade changes at its Aug. 11 meeting. Superintendent Patricia Murray told the board at that session that construction was "slightly delayed but will be on time for the opening of schools."

Ahead of the first day, district educators participated in a two-day Social Emotional Learning Institute along with summer workshops on literacy, mathematics, instructional technology, artificial intelligence and co-teaching practices.

The next Board of Education meeting is Thursday, Aug. 27.