Over a 40-year span, Dr. Gladys I. Cruz has established a distinguished career in education as a teacher and leader at the local, regional, state, and national levels.

As district superintendent for Questar III Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), Cruz serves a dual role—acting as the representative of the state commissioner of education and chief executive officer of the Questar III Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). As the commissioner’s representative in Rensselaer, Columbia and Greene counties, Cruz is responsible for providing strong leadership within the supervisory district and bringing local school district concerns to the attention of state leaders. As CEO of the BOCES, she leads the organization in the development, implementation and provision of programs and services provided at the request of the component districts and serving more than 650 districts across New York State. Questar III directly educates more than 1,600 students in a wide range of programs, including pre-K, special education, career and technical education (CTE), and adult education. Since joining Questar III in 1998, Cruz has served in several leadership positions including chief operating officer/deputy superintendent, assistant superintendent, director of school improvement, and BETAC specialist. During her tenure she has expanded Questar III’s School Improvement services, initiatives, and relationships with staff development networks and the New York State Education Department.

Cruz is past president of AASA, The School Superintendents Association, the nation’s premier organization representing the more than 13,000 public school superintendents nationwide. She also served as a commissioner of AASA’s Learning 2025 Network: A National Commission on Student Centered-Equity-Focused Education. She serves as a lead teacher of the AASA Aspiring Superintendents Academy® for Latino and Latina Leaders and a mentor in the AASA National Superintendent Certification Program®. She is also a member of the New York State Council of School Superintendents.

Cruz began her career as a teacher in Puerto Rico and her education experience ranges from K-12 schools to universities in New York State and Puerto Rico. In addition, she worked briefly as director of curriculum services for the New York State Education Department.

Cruz holds a PhD in curriculum and instruction and a master’s degree in curriculum development and instructional technology from the State University of New York at Albany. In addition, she holds a master’s degree in bilingual education and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and English from La Universidad del Turabo in Puerto Rico.