Potential Superintendent Candidates for Berkeley Heights Public Schools

Berkeley Heights Board of Education should look at familiar names nearby in searching for their next full-time Superintendent

-Written by an Educator in The Community

On December 26, 2023, Dr. Melissa Varley resigned as Superintendent of Berkeley Heights Public Schools (BHPS) effective June 30, 2024, if not sooner. Having said this, a search for a new Superintendent of Berkeley Heights Public Schools will begin at some point in 2024.

As two new members of the Berkeley Heights Board of Education (BOE) were sworn in on Thursday, January 4th, all eight members should consider the following candidates.

Before we rush into this list, the BOE should not rush into hiring a new Superintendent. Most new Superintendent candidates begin July 1st. Having said this, Dr. Varley announcing her resignation with six months notice does not provide adequate time for the BOE to hire a search firm such as New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), conduct interviews, and appoint a new Superintendent by July 1, 2024. 

A temporary, Interim Superintendent (mentioned at the bottom of this article) will likely need to be appointed by July 1, 2024 while the search for a full-time Superintendent intensifies in fall 2024 and possibly into spring 2025.

Here is the list of candidates (note: none of these individuals have formally applied for the position):

The Internal Candidate

Anthony Giordano, Assistant Superintendent, Berkeley Heights Public Schools since 2023.

New to Berkeley Heights, Dr. Giordano previously served as Superintendent of Schools for the K-6 Mansfield Township School District (Warren County). Dr. Giordano is currently first-in-line (or second-in-command) to be Superintendent. If Berkeley Heights wants to hire an internal candidate, Giordano should be at least provided the 2024-25 school year as a trial run as Acting Superintendent or continue as Assistant Superintendent.

Central Office Administrators Nearby

Lauren Zirpoli, Assistant Superintendent, New Providence School District since 2020.

Zirpoli previously served as Assistant Principal (2011-13) and Principal (2013-20) at New Providence High School. New Providence is currently seeking a Superintendent effective July 1st.

Robert Gardella, Director of Human Resources at Summit Public Schools since 2019.

Gardella has experience as a teacher and Assistant Principal at the elementary level in Westfield and an Assistant Principal and Principal in Chatham prior to his role in Central Office in Summit. The last Director of Human Resources in Summit, Dr. Matthew Block, is now Superintendent of Livingston Public Schools.

Emily Sortino, Assistant Superintendent of Special Services, The School District of the Chathams since 2021.

Dr. Sortino previously served as Director of Secondary Special Services and an Elementary Principal at Livingston Public Schools.

Mary Donohue, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, The School District of the Chathams since 2022.

Dr. Donohue previously served as Principal/Director of Curriculum of the K-8 Harding Township School.

Donna Gallo, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Madison Public Schools since 2022.

Dr. Gallo has previously served as a special education teacher in Bridgewater-Raritan, a Special Education Supervisor and Assistant Principal in Madison, and a middle school Principal in Summit. Madison is currently searching for a Superintendent.

Lori Jones, Principal/Director of Curriculum at Long Hill Public Schools since 2010.

Dr. Jones has seen the curriculum in the K-8 school district over the past decade.

Former BHPS Administrators

Scott McKinney, Superintendent of Delaware Valley Regional High School since 2022.

Mr. McKinney previously served in Berkeley Heights as a History teacher (1997-2007), High School Assistant Principal (2007-08), High School Principal (2008-15), and Assistant Superintendent (2015-22). McKinney possibly should have been named Superintendent as an internal candidate in 2019 as he had a vast knowledge of the district as the second-in-command for four years at that point.

David Greer, Director of Human Resources at Westfield Public Schools since 2023.

Dr. Greer previously served as a Supervisor of World Languages/English as a Second Language in Westfield and Livingston, the New Jersey Department of Education between those two districts, and then Berkeley Heights’ Assistant Superintendent during the 2022-23 school year. Dr. Greer could bring much-need expertise in World Language and ESL back to Berkeley Heights Public Schools.

Current K-8 Superintendents

Any current K-8 Superintendent. This can include Janet Walling of Mountainside, Dr. Matthew Mingle of Warren, or Dr. Steven Caponegro of Florham Park.

In the meantime…

As for an Interim (temporary) Superintendent, a retired Superintendent, such as Judy Rattner, or a retired Principal, such as Frank Geiger, could do for the 2024-25 school year.

BHCW allows Anonymous Posts for employees of local government agencies or volunteers of non-profits whose organizations would take retaliatory action against their employees and , in the case of volunteer organizations, officers for exercising their right to express an opinion about local government. We have verified the confidential source for this article and have met with him/her face to face.

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