School Board Selects New Superintendent

Candace Braun

After months of searching nationally for a new superintendent, the Princeton Regional School Board recently announced that Woodbury's Judith Wilson will assume the position vacated by Dr. Claire Sheff Kohn at the end of July. She will start on February 1, with an annual salary of $162,000.

"I believe her passion for excellence, her breadth of experience, and her creativity make her the perfect match for us," said School Board President Anne Burns.

A resident of Haddonfield where she lives with her husband, son, and daughter, Ms. Wilson has served as superintendent in the Woodbury School District for nine years. She previously served as assistant superintendent in the Southern Regional School District in Manahawkin for eight years.

Board officials made the decision to hire Ms. Wilson after visiting her district last Wednesday.

"I am thrilled," said Ms. Wilson. "I am interested in continuing the outstanding work accomplished by Dr. Kohn in the past four years, and believe that we can reach new heights because of the progress made under her leadership."

Ms. Wilson is an "outstanding educator, a collaborative leader, and an effective and efficient communicator," said Ms. Burns, adding that she has demonstrated sustained commitments to two communities, a quality Princeton has long been looking for in a super intendent.

The Woodbury superintendent has made several improvements for the school district, including tripling grants, completing $35 million in capital projects, and designing and implementing pre-K and full-day kindergarten programs. She is also committed to narrowing the minority achievement gap in schools, having coordinated the Woodbury Community Minority Task Force.

Under her leadership, the Woodbury Schools have won awards for Best Practice, Star School, Governor's School of Excellence, and as a NASA Explorer School, said Ms. Burns.

In her previous position in the Southern Regional School District, Ms. Wilson worked in the area of curriculum and instruction, where she developed a strong "gifted" program, created a professional development program that included annual summer institutes, strengthened the district's AP programs, and advanced programs for handicapped students.

Ms. Wilson holds a bachelor's degree in library science, education, and English from West Virginia Wesleyan University, and a master's degree in reading education from Rowan University. She has also done graduate work in language and linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Board will vote on Ms. Wilson's official appointment at its regular meeting on October 26. Dr. Richard Marasco will continue to serve as interim superintendent until Ms. Wilson formally assumes her post.