Throughout his 44-year education career, Dr. Craig J. Tice looked outward to improve and bring best teaching and educational practices into his science classrooms. He continued that approach in the schools and districts he has led.
That outward view resulted in a number of recognitions and honors for the Fayetteville-Manlius School District, where he served as superintendent of schools from July 2015 until his retirement on Feb. 28.
Under his watch, Enders Road, Fayetteville and Mott Road elementary schools were each recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.
“It’s a journey, not a destination,” he said. “We have to keep trying to make each day better than the last.”
Tice has been involved with several state and national organizations. At the national level, he served more than a decade as a commissioner with the Middle States Association, which benchmarks school improvement efforts against rigorous standards of excellence. Not only did he bring those rigorous standards back to the district, but he was tapped to make multiple presentations to the federal government’s National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity.
In 2018, Fayetteville-Manlius joined the Tri-State Consortium to collaborate with other high-performing school districts in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. F-M was, and still is, the only Upstate New York member.
“This allowed us to stay at the cutting edge and to continually improve upon our practices, ultimately benefitting our students,” Tice said.
During his career, Tice interacted with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) as a Commissioner’s Advisory Council member and as president of the School Alliance for Continuous Improvement. He was also vetted and authorized by NYSED to help other school districts as an “Outside Educational Expert.”
In 2021, the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) named F-M a National Demonstration System because of the district’s promotion of innovative practices and advocacy for greater student agency in teaching and learning. In 2024, AASA elevated F-M’s designation to a Lighthouse National Demonstration System, awarded to districts that are exemplary models of forward-thinking, future-driven, student-centered education.
“The board is grateful for Dr. Tice’s dedicated and steady leadership of F-M throughout his tenure. His commitment to, and passion for, teaching and learning has continued to strengthen us as a district of excellence, while recognizing the importance of our students’ and staff well‑being,” F-M Board of Education President Sarah Fitzgerald said. “Dr. Tice’s leadership has helped to build and shape a strong foundation for the future of our students, our staff and our schools, and that’s F-M PRIDE.”
During his time at F-M, the district completed several capital projects, including major renovations and additions to F-M High School and Wellwood Middle School. Each project focused on better meeting student and staff needs. Because of the scale of the projects, it was important to bring the community along in the process and seek feedback, Tice said.
Hearing directly from stakeholders has been a constant during his tenure, whether at community forums or one-on-one meetings. During Parent Council, he connected with parents and community members, eager for input.
An educator at heart, he enjoyed being around students and was often spotted at school events. This student-centered approach helped expand the district’s mental health initiatives and support a focus on personalized learning, which he said will help ease the transition to New York state’s new graduation requirements, which emphasize a holistic, skills-based approach.
“There are a lot of good people here,” Tice said. “We’ve attracted staff who work hard and care about what they do, and I’ve enjoyed that synergy.”