The Shoreham-Wading River School District has announced Debra A. Ferry, CAA, as its new director of health, physical education and athletics.
The district said on their social media that "Ms. Ferry brings extensive educational and athletic leadership experience from her previous role as director of athletics at Half Hollow Hills Central School District."
Ferry has been at Half Hollow Hills since 2016 and has led athletic programs across four schools with over 125 teams. She developed and mentored over 190 coaches while introducing new programs including unified sports, boys and girls bowling, and flag football. Her creation of a mandatory Code of Conduct Night promoted responsibility and community partnerships.
Before Half Hollow Hills Ms. Ferry served as director of health, physical education, nursing and athletics in the Port Jefferson School District. She created a High School Wellness Physical Education course incorporating modern fitness trends and successfully built a lacrosse program from community level to middle school and junior varsity teams.
She currently serves as 2nd vice president of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, a prestigious eight-year term through 2032. She previously held the position of Section XI female representative to NYSPHSAA from 2015 to 2023 and served as president of Section XI, demonstrating her influence in shaping state athletic policy.
Ms. Ferry’s coaching background includes head girls varsity field hockey coach from 2002 to 2007 and head junior varsity girls lacrosse coach from 1999 to 2006 at Northport High School, plus collegiate coaching at SUNY Cortland and roles with the Long Island Region of the Empire State Games and the United States Field Hockey Association.
“We are pleased to welcome Ms. Ferry to the Shoreham-Wading River School District,” Superintendent of Schools Mr. Gerard Poole said. “With her combination of administrative expertise, teaching background and hands-on athletic experience, she is positioned to enhance our district’s integrated approach to student health, physical education and athletics.”