Superintendent Search 2024-2025

The Princeton Board of Education unanimously and enthusiastically appointed Dr. Michael LaSusa as the next superintendent for the Princeton Public Schools, effective July 1.

“After an extensive search, we are thrilled to welcome Mike to our district. He has a proven record of success in many administrative roles in the Chathams since he was hired as a teacher there over twenty years ago. He has, served including serving as the Superintendent of Schools for the past 13 years. We look forward to his leadership here in Princeton," said Board President Dafna Kendal. “Princeton is a lighthouse district and we know Mike will make the light shine brighter. Mike is committed to equity and the belief that all children can succeed. We are confident that he has the skills to make meaningful improvements in all our students' education, specifically, the education of students of color and students receiving special education and related services.”

PPS SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS TIMELINE

RFP FOR SEARCH FIRM - COMPLETE

FORMATION OF SEARCH COMMITTEE - COMPLETE

Approved at 8/27/24 Board meeting

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education establish an Ad Hoc Superintendent Search Committee with the purpose of coordinating the hiring of a search firm and managing the procedural aspects of the search for a new permanent Superintendent.

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education acknowledges Betsy Baglio, as Chair, with Dafna Kendal, Eleanor Hubbard, Mara Franceschi and Rob Christopher as committee members along with the assistance of district administrators as needed.

HIRING OF SEARCH FIRM - COMPLETE

At the Board’s 9/11/24 meeting, the Board unanimously approved the appointment of School Leadership LLC to lead the superintendent search. Five search firms had applied through the RFP process, and the ad hoc superintendent search committee interviewed four of those firms. The unanimous recommendation of the committee was to appoint School Leadership, LLC, which has led many successful searches over the past 20 years for high-performing districts in the New York metropolitan area. The full Board had the opportunity to meet and to ask questions of Dr. Brooks and Ms. Beder during the closed session immediately preceding the Board meeting.

Dr. Martin Brooks and Ms. Rina Beder will serve as lead consultants for the Princeton search.

Dr. Marty Brooks is a former superintendent of schools for 16 years on Long Island, and recently retired as director of the Tri-State Consortium, an alliance of high performing public school districts, of which Princeton has been a member for many years. During his career, he was an assistant superintendent, building principal, guidance counselor and teacher. He received a BA and MA from NYU, and an M.Ed and Ed.D from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Ms. Rina Beder served 6 years on the Mamaroneck Board of Education, a large, high-achieving suburban school district, including as the President and Vice President. She also served on the board of a regional school board representing 54 public school districts. Ms. Beder has led and facilitated meetings on board governance and organized community conversations on issues including space and enrollment, curriculum, and student mental health and has actively advocated at the State level on behalf of 77 public school districts as a member of the steering committee for the Lower Hudson Education Coalition. She holds a J.D. and a Masters in Management and Organizational Studies and also completed the Columbia Teachers College Educational Policy Fellowship Program.

COMMUNITY INPUT – COMPLETE

School Leadership LLC Summary of Community Input

FORUMS AND FOCUS GROUPS

Dr. Brooks and Ms. Beder will be in the district leading forums and focus groups with students, staff, parents and members of the community from September 30-October 2. If you are interested in participating, please click HERE for a Google Form indicating your interest. You will receive a confirmation email with date, time and location information.

Forums for Parents and Community Members

Parent Forum (7:30-8:30 PM on Monday, September 30 - PHS PAC)
Community Member Forum (5:15-6:15 PM on Tuesday, October 1 - PMS auditorium)
Virtual Parent/Community Member Forum (8:45 -9:45 AM on Tuesday, October 2 - Click HERE for the Zoom link)
Virtual Parent Forum with Spanish Translation (6 - 6:45 pm PM on Wednesday, October 9 - Click HERE for the Zoom link)
Virtual Parent Forum with Chinese Translation (7 - 7:45 pm PM on Wednesday, October 9 - Click HERE for the Zoom link)

SURVEY

School Leadership LLC has developed a survey that the Board hopes all members of the school and district community will complete. This survey will be open for two weeks, from 9/25-10/10.

The survey closes Thursday, October 10 at noon.

English:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/PPSSUPT

En Español:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/PPSSUPTSP

CANDIDATE APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT - COMPLETE

At a special meeting of the Princeton Board of Education on Wednesday evening, the Princeton Board of Education unanimously and enthusiastically appointed Dr. Michael LaSusa as the next superintendent for the Princeton Public Schools, effective July 1.

“I am honored to become part of the Princeton school community,” said LaSusa. “I look forward to working together with members of the board, district staff, parents, and students to provide the best possible educational experience for our learners and to help our schools thrive.”

The Board extends its thanks to everyone who participated in the superintendent search process. The feedback that was received during in-person forums and in online surveys helped to guide the search process. The Board would also like to thank Dr. Marty Brooks and Ms. Rina Beder, who led this search on behalf of School Leadership, LLC.

“This is a bittersweet moment for the Board and the district,” Kendal said. “We are excited to welcome Mike in July, and we remain grateful for Dr. Kathie Foster's steady leadership of the district since November 2023. We look forward to working with Kathie through June 30, 2025, and she is committed to ensuring a smooth transition. The Board cannot thank Kathie enough for her strong and compassionate leadership of our district.”