After working in public education for over 30 years, superintendent of the Bayport-Blue Point School District, Timothy Hearney, announced he will retire after the end of the school year.

Hearney, who will officially retire on July 31, has served as superintendent of the Bayport-Blue Point School District since July 2017 and previously worked as an assistant superintendent and principal at Bayport-Blue Point High School for a decade.

“As I prepare for retirement, I want to say thank you to the entire Bayport-Blue Point community,” Hearney said. “This district has always been more than a place to work—it is a place where people truly care about one another and about the future of our children.”

Reflecting on his almost 18 years at Bayport-Blue Point, Hearney said he was most proud of how the district grew and flourished “while remaining deeply committed to the whole child and to the strength of its community.”

Some of the district’s major achievements over recent years, Hearney said, included earning National Blue Ribbon School recognition and implementing universal pre-K, which provides a strong foundation for the district’s youngest students.

When asked what kept him coming back to school every year, Hearney said it was the people, from the curiosity and resilience of each student to the commitment and professionalism of each staff member.

“And beyond the schools themselves, it was the strong sense of tradition and community that defined Bayport-Blue Point,” Hearney said. “There is a deep connection among families, schools, and the broader community that is truly special. That shared commitment to doing what is best for children, combined with a collective commitment to keep moving the district forward, made coming back each day very easy.”

While Bayport-Blue Point saw growth and achievement in education during his tenure, Hearney also reflected on the district’s most difficult challenges, including the youth mental health crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We recognized the growing needs of our students and worked intentionally to build a culture that prioritized wellness, reduced stigma, and expanded access to supports,” Hearney said regarding mental health.

Hearney said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the district came together “in extraordinary ways,” through collaboration and adapting to a remote and hybrid learning environment.

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