Superintendent Dr. Ronald G. Taylor is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Ann Bodnar, a twenty plus year SOMSD employee and District alum, to the position of Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction effective immediately. The South Orange & Maplewood School District Board of Education approved Ann Bodnar, current Director of Curriculum & Instruction, to the position of Assistant Superintendent during the August 25 BOE public meeting.
“Ms. Bodnar brings high expectations, accountability to results and a deep knowledge of curriculum and instruction to the position of Assistant Superintendent,” Superintendent Taylor shared. He continued, “Ann’s lineage as a proud product of SOMSD, as well as her legacy as an instructional leader, is well documented. Leading Clinton Elementary School out of ‘Focus Status’ (NJDOE determination for schools in need of targeted improvement) and ascending to a position on the school district leadership team (SLT), represent Ms. Bodnar’s pragmatic approach to education. All who have had the pleasure of working with Ann know that she is a ‘roll your sleeves’ up instructional leader with an equity focus. Her work in the Curriculum & Instruction Department with her predecessor and our Academic Supervisors has resulted in so many accomplishments that have benefited our students and staff. Including but not limited to, the launching of Canvas and Atlas, working with our IT Director to close the digital divide during the COVID-19 emergency closure … as well as the implementation of Amistad, LGBTQ and AAPI curricular enhancements.”
Ms. Bodnar has been a SOMSD teacher and administrator since 1998. A student of the SOMSD and a graduate of Columbia High School, Ms. Bodnar began her career in the District as a 5th grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher where she worked for eight years. In this role she collaborated with school social workers to ensure that all students’ social needs were met and served on building and district leadership teams, including positive school wide behavior programs and district curriculum development. In 2011 she transitioned to the role of Assistant to the Principal at Clinton Elementary School, where she served for three years and provided leadership in the areas of data analysis, grade level meetings, technology integration, community programs and PTA activities.
In 2011 she became the Assistant Principal of Clinton Elementary School and was later promoted to Principal in 2016. In 2019 she moved to central administration and was appointed the Director of Curriculum & Instruction for the District. During her tenure in this role she helped to spearhead and led professional development for staff, managed assessment testing, brought the K-12 curriculum online via Atlas so that it is accessible to parents and teachers and led a partnership w/ CodeJoy which brings coding to elementary schools via their media specialists.
Ms. Bodnar shares, “It is an honor to be named the District’s new Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction. I am lucky to have been a part of this community for my entire life and am excited to continue my commitment to our staff, families and most importantly our SOMSD students. I look forward to bringing my equity lens into curriculum and instruction to ensure that all students are given the same opportunity to access an education where they feel seen, heard, and part of something bigger than themselves, so that they can succeed not only in school, but in life.”
Ms. Bodnar received her Masters Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Scranton in 2011 and completed her undergraduate degree from Kean University in Elementary Education in 1997. A search for a new Director of Curriculum & Instruction will begin immediately.