Frances G. Wills

Dr. Frances Wills served for six years as Superintendent of Schools in Putnam Valley, New York, after spending three years as a consultant and Coordinator of Professional Development for Pace University's School of Education.   She retired in June 2010 as Superintendent of Schools in Briarcliff Manor, New York where she served for 16 years.  The Briarcliff Manor community recognized her contributions by naming the auditorium in her honor. Frances was formerly Superintendent in Belfast, Maine for five years and prior to that served for 20 years as Director of Curriculum and Instruction, middle school principal, assistant high school principal, guidance counselor, and middle and high school English teacher in Maine and Massachusetts.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Hunter College, Frances holds a M.A. from Cornell University and a M.Ed. from University of Maine, Orono. During 1987-88, Dr. Wills was granted a sabbatical to pursue her doctorate at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and was awarded her Ph.D. in 1990. Frances has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Maine, Orono and Fordham University, has taught for several years in St. John Fisher’s Executive Leadership doctoral program located at Iona College and most recently in the Educational Leadership doctoral program through Long Island University.

Dr. Wills has authored numerous articles on educational issues and co-authored a chapter on leading change in a text on district leadership, edited by noted scholar, Dr. Kenneth Leithwood, published by SUNY Press. She has received numerous educational honors and awards and belongs to many organizations including the New York State Council of School Administrators, Lower Hudson Council of Administrative Women in Education, Hunter College High School Alumni Association, University of Wisconsin Alumni Association, and Suburban School Superintendents. Most recently, Dr. Wills was nominated to serve on the Hope for Youth Foundation Board of Directors.

Fran has three children and three grandchildren and resides with her husband, Tom, a retired RN and therapist, in Ossining.