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Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, 16 White Plains City School District students stood beside a memorial Friday morning to help a community honor six of its own and nearly 3,000 others whose lives were taken that day. The White Plains High School and Highlands Middle School students – accompanied by teachers Emory Davis, Paul Davis and Michael Sanchez – joined city officials, first responders, clergy members, families and community members at Liberty Park for the city’s 25th Anniversary September 11 Remembrance Ceremony.

Students across the White Plains City School District streamed into schools on Wednesday morning with a mix of excitement, anticipation and a few butterflies to kick off the 2026-27 academic year. Teachers and staff greeted the students with hugs and smiles, parents squeezed in a few final photographs and school leaders stood ready to welcome thousands of young Tigers back after the long summer break.

White Plains City School District Superintendent Dr. Joseph Ricca opened the new academic year with a spirit of excitement, energy and pride on Tuesday morning as he delivered his annual welcome-back address to faculty and staff. Dr. Ricca highlighted student accomplishments, innovative programs and academic growth during his almost hourlong address in the White Plains High School auditorium, where he challenged the crowd to build on the district’s success for the 2026-27 academic year. His theme, “Building on the Past, Shaping the Future,” reflected both pride in what White Plains schools accomplished over the past year and a determination to continue forging ahead for the young Tigers.

Jessica Graves is bringing a philosophy built around listening, responsiveness and building strong relationships with employees to her new role as Director of Human Resources for the White Plains City School District. Ms. Graves comes to White Plains from the Mount Vernon City School District, where she most recently served as Associate Superintendent for Human Resources. She said White Plains’ reputation, diversity and opportunities for students all attracted her to the position, as did the professionalism of its staff and the district’s investment in its schools.

Durham School Services has shared an important back-to-school update for White Plains City School District families about student transportation and the BusZone app.  

White Plains Police Officer Jasmine Albert has been named the School Resource Officer of the Year by the State of New York Police Juvenile Officers Association, recognizing her commitment to the students, families and school community she serves. As one of the White Plains Department of Public Safety’s School Resource Officers, Officer Albert has focused on building positive relationships with young people, earning their trust and serving as a dependable resource within the schools.

Community members, educators, administrators, and parents came together on August 12 to evaluate and discuss the White Plains City School District's Strategic Plan, continuing the district’s annual process of reviewing priorities and identifying opportunities to strengthen student outcomes.

White Plains students turned part of their summer vacation into an opportunity to learn how they can make a difference in their schools, city and community through the White Plains Middle School Summer Civic Seal Program. The Summer Academy program gave the young Tigers a hands-on introduction to civic engagement, combining lessons in citizenship and advocacy with opportunities to meet local leaders and develop projects addressing real-world issues. The class was led by WPHS Social Studies teacher Jawanda Weston, who serves as the school’s New York State Seal of Civic Readiness facilitator, along with summer intern Ian Aramburo, an incoming 10th-grader.

From holding a black bear skull to discovering the marine life of Long Island Sound, White Plains elementary students immersed themselves in the wonders of the natural world Tuesday during the district’s Elementary Summer Program at Post Road School. The program, which serves about 300 students in grades K-4, blends academic support with engaging, hand-on experiences designed to keep children learning throughout July.

Are you interested in working in the White Plains City School District? Apply now! The WPCSD is hiring substitute teachers, substitute teaching assistants and cafeteria recess monitors. Please apply at www.olasjobs.org. To apply for a cafeteria recess monitor position, you can also send an email with your resume and cover letter to hr@wpcsd.k12.ny.us.

With more than two decades of experience in special education and a lifelong passion for helping children reach their fullest potential, Lori Graham has joined the White Plains City School District as its new Secondary Director of Special Education. Ms. Graham brings more than 20 years of experience serving students with disabilities in a variety of roles, beginning her career as a speech-language pathologist before advancing into educational leadership.

While many students are enjoying summer break, hundreds of White Plains City School District scholars are spending part of their vacation building skills, preparing for Regents exams, exploring civic engagement and preparing for college. Spread across White Plains High School, the summer programs serve about 600 middle and high school students through a wide array of opportunities designed to help them succeed, according to Assistant Principal Sara Hall, who serves as the summer principal. The traditional middle school program focuses on English Language Arts and math. Students are identified through various data points, including class grades, state assessments and academic growth assessments such as NWEA's Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). "It's really giving them the prerequisite skills to be successful in the following school year," Ms. Hall said Wednesday morning.

After building a successful career leading mathematics, science and STEM initiatives across New York City and Westchester County, Irene “Minnie” Iannuzzi has joined the White Plains City School District with a clear mission: support teachers, inspire students and make learning more meaningful through real-world experiences. As the district's new Director of Mathematics, Science, Engineering and Career and Technical Education (CTE) for grades 7-12, Ms. Iannuzzi brings more than two decades of experience as a teacher, instructional coach, school leader and district administrator. Throughout her career, one philosophy has remained constant. "I always think of myself first as a teacher and as an educator," Ms. Iannuzzi said. "I'm there to support, I'm there to give guidance, I'm there to be your thinking partner. But I also have high expectations. I've always described myself as tough but loving."

 The White Plains City School District is hiring cooks, food service helpers and substitute food service workers to join our Food & Nutrition Services team. Enjoy a competitive salary, a convenient work schedule, and weekends, holidays and summers off while making a difference in the lives of our students every day. Scan the QR code on the flyer to access the fillable employment application, or download and complete the attached fillable application form. We look forward to welcoming new members to our team!

Summer learning is in full swing at Eastview Middle School, as rising sixth- and seventh-grade students started the Summer Horizons English as a New Language (ENL) Program, which is in its fifth year, this week

About 20 teachers spent several days this week strengthening their understanding of the White Plains City School District’s Arts & Letters curriculum during a professional learning workshop organized by the Staff Development Center. The sessions – led by teachers Karen Cook and Jeanette Castilla at Eastview Middle School – focused on helping educators deepen their understanding of the curriculum’s instructional resources and assessments as they prepare for the 2026-27 school year. 

Elementary School play dates for incoming kindergarten students will be held in the coming weeks ahead of the new school year! View the schedule for your school here!

Administrators from the White Plains City School District met on Thursday for their annual retreat to reflect on the 2025-26 school year and continue planning for the upcoming 2026-27 school year. 

The District will be undertaking improvements to vehicle access at the physical education circle at White Plains High School. As part of our ongoing efforts to maintain efficient access to our athletic facilities and enhance traffic flow, the District will be installing an electronic gate at the entrance of the physical education circle. This improvement is designed to help keep access routes to the gyms and athletic fields clear and ensure parked vehicles are in the designated parking lot. Installation of the new gate will begin on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.