Manhasset superintendent Gaurav Passi to be named Port Washington schools chief

A familiar North Shore leader is to be named the new superintendent of the Port Washington school district, taking over from an interim chief who has led the district for most of the school year.

Gaurav Passi, who currently serves as the Manhasset schools superintendent, is expected to be formally appointed at a board meeting on Tuesday, district officials said. A meet and greet with the community will be held before the vote, at 7 p.m. at the Paul D. Schreiber High School, 101 Campus Drive.

"I am deeply honored to have been entrusted by the board of education to serve as the next superintendent of schools for the Port Washington school district," Passi said in a statement. "From my very first conversation, I could sense the warmth of the community, the pride in its schools, and a deep commitment to student success. I look forward to meeting the many people who make this district so special and working together to build on Port Washington’s proud tradition of excellence."

District officials said Passi, whose salary was not immediately available, will take over the role starting Aug. 1. He will replace interim Superintendent Chris Shields, who will move back to the role of assistant superintendent of human resources and leadership development.

"We are excited to welcome Dr. Passi as the next superintendent of the Port Washington school district," Board of Education President Adam Smith said in a statement. "His experience and leadership will support the continued success of our students, staff and community. We also want to extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Chris Shields for his steady leadership and commitment during this transitional period."

Shields took over the top role late last year after then-superintendent, Michael J. Hynes, was charged in November with DWI in a crash that seriously injured a motorcyclist in Sayville. Hynes had been set to depart the district in December after being presented with "a rare opportunity to work in the private education sector," Newsday previously reported. His court case is pending.

Manhasset search begins

Passi was named acting superintendent of the Manhasset school district in 2021, and was appointed on a permanent basis in 2022. He previously served as the district's head of curriculum, instruction and personnel. 

The Manhasset board of education said in a statement Thursday that they have begun the process of identifying a new superintendent.

"We are actively working to ensure a smooth and stable transition and have initiated the search for an interim superintendent for the upcoming school year," school officials said. "In parallel, the board is pursuing a permanent superintendent with the assistance of a professional search firm. Our focus remains on finding a leader who will continue to uphold Manhasset’s tradition of academic excellence and community partnership."

The Port Washington district partnered with a search firm, conducted forums and a put out a public survey to gather community input during its search process.

Passi has more than two decades of experience in public education, including leadership roles as assistant principal and social studies teacher in several Long Island school districts. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master's of arts in social studies education from Hofstra University, as well as a doctorate in education from Dowling College in Oakdale.