The Rochester City School District has a new superintendent.

The RCSD’s Board of Education selected Dr. Eric Jay Rosser as the new superintendent Thursday. He's set to take over leadership on July 1 after leaving his current position as superintendent of the Poughkeepsie City School District.

"I understand the challenges that many of our children face, the challenges that our parents face, and for me, it's important that any role I'm in, that I am giving my all to make sure students have the opportunity and access to be able to find success, not only in school, but beyond school as well," Rosser said.

Rosser has nearly 25 years of experience after working for school systems in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and just down the Thruway in Buffalo.  

"The data indicates that 80% of a student's waking hours between kindergarten and 12th grade is spent in the community, whereas only 20% is spent within the four walls that we call school," said Rosser. "It's imperative that we approach meeting the wholistic needs of our children by making sure that we're working hand in hand with home and community to be able to address their academic social-emotional needs."

Rochester's last permanent superintendent, Carmine Peluso, left the district last summer.