SEOUL — Officials with Department of Defense Dependents Schools have named a new superintendent for its South Korea district.
Samuel D. Menniti, assistant superintendent of the DODDS-Mediterranean District, will succeed Charles Toth, who left on Nov. 19 to become assistant associate director for education at the Department of Defense Education Activities headquarters in Arlington, Va.
Menniti will begin working in South Korea on Jan. 1.
“He brings to the Korea District the philosophy that schools exist for the students, parents, and communities that they serve,” Nancy Bresell, director for DODDS-Pacific/Department of Defense Education Activity, said in a news release. “His skill and demonstrated success as a facilitator and team builder comes to us at a critical time as we embark on the challenges of transformation and realignment.”
Peter Grenier, South Korea’s acting district superintendent, said the biggest issues Menniti will face are the Yongsan Garrison relocation plan and rising student enrollment due to increased command sponsorship of soldiers’ families.
Menniti also will oversee several education initiatives on math, literacy, special education and a student-to-student transition program.
He has worked for DODDS since 1979, as a teacher in Italy and Turkey; assistant elementary school principal in Aviano, Italy; assistant superintendent in the United Kingdom District; and as a high school principal in Turkey, Japan and Pusan, South Korea.
He taught at a Dekalb County, Ga., elementary school before joining DODDS.
Menniti has a master’s degree in elementary education and reading from Georgia State University and a bachelor of science degree in education from Youngstown State University in Ohio.
He is a 1995 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s Educational Leadership Program.
