Morris School District Chief Named State's Northern Region Superintendent of the Year
Published on November 07, 2019
The New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA) has named Mackey Pendergrast, Chief Education Officer of the Morris School District, as the state's Region 1 Superintendent of the Year.
(JPG, 32KB)Pendergast, who is in his fifth year as superintendent for the Morris School District, was one of three regional winners across the state, along with Region II winner David Aderhold of the West Windsor/Plainsboro Regional School District and Region III winner David Trethaway of the Manchester Township School District.
The Superintendents of the Year were introduced at recent education workshop in Atlantic City, co€sponsored by the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials and the New Jersey School Boards Association.
"It is a privilege to acknowledge and congratulate New Jersey's 2020 regional superintendents. They are remarkable chief education officers with vision, imagination, and compassion for the students,staff and communities they serve," said School Boards Association Executive Director Richard Bozza.
In nominating Pendergrast, Morris County NJASA affiliate President Scott Moffitt noted that Pendergrast grapples with a pre€existing desegregation order, just one of a few such orders in New Jersey. While others discuss issues surrounding equity and access, Pendergrast consistently confronts the complex issue, said Moffitt. He seeks out innovative ways to serve his district's diverse student population.
As a veteran superintendent, Pendergrast is quick to share his knowledge and expertise with his colleagues throughout the county, said Moffitt, who is superintendent of the Morris County Vocational School District.
(PNG, 7KB)The next step in the process for the 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 and former regional superintendents of the year will select the 2020 New Jersey Superintendent of the Year., which will be announced in February, 2020.
Mackey Pendergrast began his public school teaching career as a high school history teacher and basketball coach for the Summit Public Schools. He held positions in central office administration for the Westfield Public School District and West Morris Regional High School District before becoming superintendent at West Morris and later the Morris School District.