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NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORSPress Release
Contact Anne H. Gallagher
NJASA Director of Communications
609-599-2900, ext. 126
The 2014 New Jersey Association of School Administrators Northern Regional Superintendent of the Year Patrick J. Fletcher is available to comment on education-related issues.
– Has strong record of fiscal responsibility and dedication to learning initiatives –
Atlantic City, New Jersey, October 22, 2013 ... Patrick J. Fletcher, Chief Education Officer, River Dell Regional School District was selected the 2014 New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA) Northern Regional Superintendent of the Year. He was introduced today at the Opening General Session of the Annual Fall Workshop in Atlantic City. The workshop is co-sponsored by NJASA, the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials (NJASBO) and the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA).
This is the sixth year of NJASA’s selection process to choose three regional - Southern, Central and Northern - Superintendents of the Year winners.The two other chief education officers joining Fletcher are: Central Regional winner – Dr. Michael Gorman, Chief Education Officer, Pemberton Township Public Schools; and Southern Regional winner – Dr. Philip J. Guenther, Chief Education Officer, Atlantic County Vocational School District.
NJASA Executive Director Richard G. Bozza said, “Pat Fletcher is an excellent role model for all aspiring chief education officers to emulate. He is a results-oriented professional who continually strives to improve the quality of education for all students through his knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm.”
From his vantage point of 25 plus years experience as a school administrator, Fletcher states, “The office of the Chief Education Officer is one of the most dynamic positions in any community. It requires exceptional leadership and management skills, a deep understanding of the financial mechanism and an ability to make complex issues accessible to the general public.”
Fletcher, highly respected in the state, county and local educational communities, comments, “Curriculum development is a collaborative process involving both external and internal influences. It is the responsibility of the Chief Education Officer to devise a process that allows all influences to coalesce into a useable document.”
He added, “This can be achieved by involving staff, parents, the Board and students in an organized manner to garner support for program improvement and implementation.”
Under his tutelage, River Dell Regional is one of the best public school systems in the state and nation with
consistently high rankings in New Jersey publications like NJ Monthly, The Bergen Record and The Star Ledger, as well as Newsweek and US News and World Report. Despite these accomplishments, Fletcher is most proud of developing a comprehensive special education program that provides the same opportunities and transitions as the non-disabled population.
The Northern Regional Superintendent of the Year assumed the helm of the River Dell Regional School District in 2006. Prior to leading the River Dell District, he served the Glen Rock Public Schools in various administrative positions for 14 years. He served the last five as the Chief Education Officer.
A River Edge resident, he is a trained Business Administrator and CPA. Prior to assuming the Glen Rock superintendency in 2001, he served as the district’s business administrator/board secretary. He also served as the business administrator/board secretary for the Closter School and Englewood Cliffs Districts.
Fletcher, an NJASA member since 1999, currently serves as the NJASA Secretary and served as the Association’s Treasurer in 2012-2013. At the local level, he is President of the Bergen County Association of School Administrators (BCASA) and a member of its Executive Committee. Prior to the BCASA Presidency, he was the Association’s Treasurer, Secretary, and President-Elect.
Fletcher earned his Master’s degree from Seton Hall University and received his Bachelor of Arts from Lafayette College.
Each regional winner was judged on the following qualifications: 1) minimum of five years experience as a chief education officer; 2) record of service within their respective county affiliate and NJASA; and 3) a distinguished record as an educator.
The next step in the process for the three regional winners will be the selection of a New Jersey candidate to participate in the AASA National Superintendent of the Year Award. A committee of NJASA Past Presidents will select the 2014 New Jersey Superintendent of the Year. The program, established in 1988 and sponsored by ARAMARK Education, VALIC, and AASA, is open to all public school superintendents in the United States and overseas.
The selection qualifications for the State and National Superintendent of the Year include: meeting the needs of their students, demonstrated communication strength, a commitment to professional development and growth, and significant community involvement. Additionally, at the state and regional levels, NJASA has an additional qualification that addresses service with the county affiliate and NJASA.
AASA will announce the National Superintendent of the Year at its Annual Conference on Education in February 2014. The recipient of this prestigious honor will receive a $10,000 college scholarship for a student at the high school where the superintendent graduated.
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About NJASA:
The New Jersey Association of School Administrators is an organization of chief education officers and school administrators who lead school districts in New Jersey’s 21 counties. The Association’s mission is to ensure a superior statewide system of education. Through ongoing professional training and education, the Association shares knowledge among its members about best practices from both educational and administrative perspectives. Its goal is to move education forward by ensuring the highest quality of instruction for all New Jersey children. The Association is located 920 West State Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08618-5328. For more information -- PH: 609.599.2900 / Fax: 609.599.9359 / website: www.njasa.net
Education Brief Videos
Due to the complexity of educational topics, NJASA has released a series of videos to help parents and taxpayers better understand the issues. Each video can be accessed on a special NJASA YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/TheNJASA or by clicking on the YouTube icon on the NJASA website, www.njasa.net.
