Bernard P. Pierorazio is Superintendent of the Yonkers Public Schools, the fourth largest district in New York State. Prior to becoming Superintendent, he served as Deputy Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, and Principal of Saunders Trades and Technical High School, which under his leadership, became a United States Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence as well as a New American High School.

Mr. Pierorazio, a graduate of the Yonkers Public Schools District, continued his studies at Central Connecticut State University, the College of New Rochelle, and Iona College, earning degrees in History, Special Education and Administration and Supervision. With strong community loyalty and dedication to education, he returned to his native Yonkers, working as a teacher, dean and administrator.

Mr. Pierorazio has received numerous prestigious awards and recognitions that highlight his educational career and are testimony to his community commitment:

• New York State School Superintendent of the Year
• Rotary Club of Yonkers “Leadership in Education”
• Boy Scouts of America “Excellence in Education Award”
• American Congress of Italian Migration “Educator of the Year”
• Westchester Association of Hispanic Professionals Award
• Eastchester Tuckahoe Lions’ Club “Man of the Year”
• Khalil Gibran Education Fund “Khalil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Award”
• Spanish Community Progress Foundation “Outstanding Community Service”
• Career and Technical Education “Educator’s Award”
• Fulbright Association - Greater New York Chapter “Leadership Award”
• Grand Marshall of the Yonkers Columbus Day Celebration/Parade
• Grand Marshall of the Eastchester Tuckahoe Columbus Day Parade
• Nepperhan Community Center Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Drum Major for Justice”
• Anthony Maggiacomo Lodge 2320 “Man of the Year”
• New York Association for Continuing Community Education “Lawrence Levin Professional Award”
• New York State Association for Women in Administration “Maxine Giacobbe Award”

Mr. Pierorazio has served as the keynote speaker at many local, state and national conferences. He has also hosted and participated in numerous school-related programs for televisions stations including Yonkers public education station, WDMC, and Cablevision News 12.

Mr. Pierorazio continues to demonstrate that he is a true visionary. In the capacity of Deputy Superintendent, he was instrumental in developing the District’s Five Year Plan which compelled unitary status for the Yonkers Public Schools. As Superintendent, Mr. Pierorazio is adamant about student achievement and expresses his expectations annually through the Superintendent’s non-negotiable goals. He is presently involved in several initiatives: the restructuring of the school system through the introduction of a pre-kindergarten through eighth grade model that is improving student achievement and parent involvement at the secondary level, an increase in the number of district high schools to ensure smaller learning communities such as Riverside High School, Early College High School and the Yonkers Montessori Academy, and a one billion dollar Yonkers Public Schools infrastructure modernization effort. In addition, he formed district partnerships with many important institutions: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the College Board Association to establish the Palisade Preparatory School, the Yonkers Partners in Education Foundation, and the Beczak Environmental Education Center.

A resident of Westchester, Mr. Pierorazio is the son of Yonkers natives Joseph and Lillian (nee DeSantis) Pierorazio. Mr. Pierorazio is married to Tina, who is a retired educator from the Ardsley Public Schools and an adjunct professor at Mercy College. Among all his accomplishments, he is most proud of his two sons, Dr. Phillip Martin Pierorazio, a graduate of Georgetown University and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and a surgeon at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, and Michael Bernard Pierorazio JD, a graduate of Columbia University and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.