This article was updated on June 20 at 10:35 a.m.
Cody Blume, Rye High School’s social studies teacher, has been appointed as its new assistant principal.
Blume’s four-year appointment, which will begin on July 1, was approved by the city Board of Education on Tuesday night. He will take home an annual salary of $180,000 in his new role, according to board documents.
“Please join me in congratulating Dr. Blume on his new role,” said Rye High School Principal Andrew Hara in an email to the school community on Wednesday.
The teacher-turned-administrator has been a familiar face on the Rye campus for nearly a decade. He first joined the Rye City School District in 2016 as Rye Middle School social studies teacher, where he also served as the department coordinator. Following an eight-year run there, Blume transitioned to the high school to teach social studies in 2024.
He has also spent the last two years as the IB coordinator, helping oversee the creation of the International Baccalaureate Program for 11th and 12th graders — a long-planned academic endeavor that is set to kick off in September.
Blume earned just under $134,000 as a social studies teacher in 2024, state filings show. He was granted tenure by the district in 2020.
He replaces Christina Cannon, who announced in May that she was leaving her position at the high school to pursue other professional opportunities.
In order to land on Blume, Rye administrators spent the past month undergoing a search process, including interviews with school district leaders and a committee of stakeholders.
Throughout the process, Hara said Blume demonstrated a “strong skill set” as an exceptional educator with the right demeanor and a “proven ability and commitment to building relationships with students.”
“A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all the committee members for their time and effort during the hiring process,” Hara added. “The insights and feedback of the committee were invaluable.”
A graduate of Mamaroneck High School, Blume began his career as an educator in 2013 as a social studies teacher at his alma mater, where he spent nearly four years, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to becoming a full-time teacher, Blume worked as a substitute in the Mamaroneck school district teaching at various levels, including special education courses.
But he was denied tenure and let go by the district in June 2016. In response, a change.org petition was started by a Mamaroneck High School student, Angela Melgar, asking the district to reconsider its decision. The petition garnered 175 signatures at the time.
Blume has a bachelor’s in History and Secondary Education and a master’s in History, both from St. John’s University. He also holds a master’s in Guidance and Counseling from the College of New Rochelle, and a Phd in Educational Leadership from Manhattanville University.
His transition to assistant principal marks the latest administrative shift within the Rye school district. Earlier this month, the Board of Education appointed a new assistant superintendent, Laura Santabarbara, to replace Patricia Murray who will takeover the superintendent post on July 1 following the departure of Eric Byrne.
At the high school Hara also recently entered his role, taking over as principal in August. He was hired following the abrupt resignations of the high school’s principal and assistant principal that June. The board then hired Eunice Chao-Forest as his assistant principal in November.
