About the Superintendent

Dr. Bonk is entering his seventh year as Superintendent of Schools in the Wappingers Central School District: the largest in Dutchess county and the ninth largest in New York, with 15 schools, over 10,000 students and 2,000 employees.

HIS EXPERIENCE
Dr. Bonk has over 30 years of experience in the areas of education, organizational leadership, public administration and youth services. He has served in the Wappingers CSD since 2010;  prior to his appointment as Superintendent, he was Deputy Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent Of Administration and Human Resources, and Principal of John Jay HS. 

Dr. Bonk served in several roles at Arlington High School from 2000-2010: a history teacher, house principal and acting principal. Before relocating to the Hudson Valley, he served as the Director of Buffalo Youth Services and as an adjunct faculty member at the State University College at Buffalo.

HIS EDUCATION
Dr. Bonk earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Education from the State University College at Buffalo, Certificate of Advanced Study from SUNY New Paltz, Doctorate in Executive Leadership from Saint John Fisher University. He is also an alumnus of the Institute for Educational Leadership Educational Fellowship Policy Program at Columbia University.

HIS COMMUNITY FOCUS
Dr. Bonk currently serves as the treasurer of the Mid Hudson School Studies Council, executive board member of Section 1 Athletics, member of the board of directors of the Dutchess County Chamber Foundation and the  Dutchess Community College Foundation and is the past president of the New York State Management Advocates for School Labor Affairs. 

He also serves as historian for the Dutchess County Ancient Order Of Hibernians, and is a member of many local organizations and committees, including: the Rotary Club of Wappingers Falls, Rotary Club of Fishkill, Marist University Teacher Advisory Committee, Dutchess Community College advisory committees for automotive, nursing, heating and ventilation, and air conditioning; and various educational and school safety advisory committees throughout the Hudson Valley. 

HIS ADVOCACY AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
In the 2025-26 school year, Dr. Bonk received a Meritorious Service Award from the Lower Hudson Council Of School Superintendents in recognition of his outstanding educational advocacy on behalf of the 76 school districts throughout the lower Hudson Valley region. For the 2024-25 school year, he received the Commitment To Excellence Award from The Rotary Club Of Wappingers Falls, and was named the New York State Superintendent of the Year by NYSCATE in 2023.