NJASA

Contact Anne H. Gallagher

NJASA Director of Communications

609-599-2900, ext. 126

Carroll, Montesano and Pollifrone-Sinatra are Selected

Trenton, New Jersey, September 26, 2011 ... The New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA) has selected three regional 2012 Superintendents of the Year. They are: Southern Regional winner – Geraldine Carroll, Superintendent and Director of Curriculum, Lindenwold Public Schools; Northern Regional winner – Dr. Roy R. Montesano, Superintendent, Ramsey Public School District; and Central Regional winner – Theresa J. Pollifrone-Sinatra, Superintendent, Metuchen Public Schools.

NJASA Executive Director Richard G. Bozza said, “The accomplishments of all three regional chief education officers exemplify what every chief education officer should achieve. They are remarkable educational leaders with vision, imagination, and compassion for the students they serve.”

Southern Regional winner Carroll is a dedicated, hard-working professional who continually strives to improve the quality of education for all students. She is currently the President of the Great Schools of New Jersey – an association of high needs school districts.  A prolific writer and noted author of curriculum-related materials, she also presents innovative curriculum-related initiatives at state and county professional development opportunities. At the county level, Carroll has been active in the Camden County Association of School Administrators (CCASA), holding various offices, including that of President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Northern Regional winner Montesano is highly respected in both the state and local educational communities.  An effective spokesperson with over 25 years experience as a school administrator, he assumed the helm of the Ramsey Public School District in 2006. Previously, he served as Superintendent of the Westwood Regional School District for six years. He is President of the Bergen County Association of School Administrators (BCASA). In addition, he is the recipient of the Bergen County Elementary and Middle Schools Administrators Association (BCEMSAA) Administrative Excellence Award.

Central Regional winner Pollifrone-Sinatra, an NJASA member since 1996, is a contributing author to the Association’s publications. Her most recent article is titled, “All Children Belong.” She has been actively involved in several NJASA Committees and is a member of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). At the local level, she serves as treasurer of the Middlesex County Association of School Administrators (MCASA), a position she has held for over a decade. She began her professional career as an educator in 1966 in the Englewood Public Schools.

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) distinguished record as an educator.

This is the fourth year of NJASA’s new selection process in which three regional - Southern, Central and Northern - Superintendents of the Year winners are chosen.

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 2012 New Jersey Superintendent of the Year. The program, established in 1988 and sponsored by ARAMARK Education, ING Foundation, 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 a fifth qualification that addresses service to the Association.

AASA will announce the National Superintendent of the Year at its Annual Conference on Education in February 2012. 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