Archives for April 2019
SOMSD Host Middle School Math Parents Night
Middle School Math Parent Nights was held on April 23rd at South Orange Middle School and April 25th at Maplewood Middle School.
The presentation can be found below.
Also, click on the Middle School Math Course Selection Form to view the course selection options.
05-11-2019 5:34 pm | Download |
Parenting Center & PTAs Present: Raising Children To Be Emotionally Healthy Eaters
Join us for an informative educational workshop
This workshop will help parents understand what
is involved in raising children to have an
emotionally healthy relationship with food. For
example – not use food for comfort. Case material
will be presented and techniques and tools to use
in your household to promote healthy emotionally
eating will be offered.
We have an abundance of information in our
culture on how to eat healthy yet the incidence of
disordered eating continues to grow.
2019 Diversity Job Fair
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019
4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Columbia High School – Cougar Café
17 Parker Avenue, Maplewood, NJ 07040
To pre-register, please go to: www.applitrack.com/somsd/onlineapp
Complete and submit the Job Fair Quick Form which can
be found under External Applicants by April 12, 2019.
The South Orange and Maplewood School District is committed to building a
teaching and administrative staff reflective of the rich racial, cultural and
linguistic diversity of our students. We are recruiting educators from diverse
backgrounds who share our commitment to an inclusive culture where
students and staff can thrive!
Middle School Math Course Selection – Parent Info Nights
Board of Education Appoints Dr. Ronald Taylor New Superintendent of Schools
It is with tremendous pleasure and excitement that the South Orange Maplewood Board of Education announces the appointment of Dr. Ronald Taylor as Superintendent of Schools, effective July 8, 2019.
Dr. Taylor was selected in a robust search process led by Dr. Bill Librera, our search consultant, from West Hudson Associates, which began in August 2018. The search included community meetings and a survey to craft a leadership profile, selection of candidates to be interviewed in a first round with the Board of Education, second round interviews with three finalists. Dr. Taylor emerged as the leading candidate, and subsequent in-depth interviews (including a conversation with the student representative to the Board), background and reference checks, and a site visit by two of the three Board officers confirmed the Board’s conviction that Dr. Taylor is the right educational leader for SOMSD.
Board of Education President Annemarie Maini said: “Dr. Taylor is an exceptional leader with extensive experience, proven results, and outstanding listening and communication skills. Throughout the search process, the Board focused on finding an educational leader who is unwaveringly student-focused and has a track record of results which match our immediate and long-term needs. Dr. Taylor will be an asset to our community as we work to deliver on major initiatives including a $145+MM bond, a complete elementary reconfiguration, and continue to move our district toward deliberate monitoring and oversight using QSAC.”
Dr. Taylor started his career as a kindergarten teacher. He was an assistant principal, as well as an award-winning principal, before moving to a Regional Superintendent role in Newark. He joined Willingboro as Superintendent eight years ago where his research-based, data-driven approach resulted in bringing academic and operational stability to Willingboro.
Dr. Taylor’s eight years of experience as the Superintendent of Willingboro have provided an excellent foundation for him to lead the work to address SOMSD’s current priorities:
- Infrastructure: Successfully led the implementation and completion of a $67 Million facilities bond referendum under budget and ahead of schedule.
- Schools Reconfiguration: Led successful implementation of reconfiguration of elementary schools.
- Preschool Expansion: Facilitated the creation of two District Early Childhood Development Centers using $4+ Million in competitive grant funding.
- QSAC Monitoring: Improved Willingboro’s performance by 55% points in Curriculum and Instruction and improved district operational processes.
- Equity: “ Ron Taylor is serving as a strategist on the NJASA Equity for Students Committee because of his courageous and effective efforts in addressing student equity matters in his School District” according to Dr. Kathleen Taylor (no relation) on behalf of the NJASA Equity for Students Committee. At Willingboro, he successfully implemented student Chromebook “1 to 1” initiative grades 3rd-12th.
More information about his experience in these and other areas is on his attached resume.
We invite the community to join us in welcoming Dr. Taylor to South Orange-Maplewood School District, and look forward to working together to build the infrastructure, systems and educational program which will help all of our students master the skills and knowledge they need to be successful. Dr. Ficarra, the Senior Leaders of Central Office, and the Board of Education are committed to ensuring a smooth transition to our new leadership.
We will be organizing a series of meet and greets between the Superintendent and community members to begin to build relationships and understanding. The first of these will take place on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at 7pm in the CHS Library.