Middlesex County schools are experiencing a major superintendent shuffle as seven longtime heads of schools have either left or are leaving their district posts, while an eighth is on administrative leave.
South Brunswick's Scott Feder, North Brunswick's Janet Ciarrocca, Old Bridge's David Cittadino, Spotswood's Graham Peabody and Milltown's Stephanie Brown are either retiring or going elsewhere by the start of the new school year in September. East Brunswick's Victor Valeski is leaving Feb. 1 to take an unspecified opportunity elsewhere and Piscataway's Frank Ranelli left the district in March.
Permanency in Monroe is up in the air as Superintendent Chari Chanley is currently on administrative leave. Assistant Superintendent Adam Layman was appointed Acting Superintendent on June 11.
Old Bridge Superintendent of Schools Cittadino announced he is leaving at the end of the school to take the superintendent position in Wayne. Cittadino, whose accolades include being named NJPTA State Outstanding Superintendent of the Year in 2024 and Middlesex County Superintendent of the Year in 2020, served in the district for 20 years. Cittadino, currently the Middlesex County Association of School Administrators’ president, began his career in education in Elizabeth schools in 1997 and has spent most of his time in Old Bridge, where he’s been superintendent since 2013. A successor has not yet been named.
Feder is leaving South Brunswick effective Sept. 1 after eight years as the superintendent of schools, 14 years in the district, and 34 years in education. With his wife, Feder intends to head to New England to be closer to his two daughters. A successor has not yet been named.
In April, Brown gave notice to the Milltown Board of Education of her retirement. She leaves the pre-K-8 district as of Sept. 1 after 12 years in the role. She also served as Curriculum Director for the district having come to Milltown in 2006 as Curriculum Coordinator. Brown, who began as a teacher in 1991, grew up in Milltown, the district she would serve for 19 years. A successor has not yet been named.
Ciarrocca, who was appointed North Brunswick acting superintendent in 2021, gave notice earlier in the year that she would be leaving as superintendent in after four years in the role at the end of this school year. Previously, Ciarrocca was a principal and the district’s director of curriculum, instruction and technology, and served 12 years in the district. Former Superintendent Brian Zychowski will return as interim superintendent of schools for the 2025-2026 school year. Zychowski served North Brunswick Township Schools for nearly 15 years, before retiring in 2021.
Peabody spent his entire education career with the Spotswood district beginning in 1995 as a social studies teacher. He became superintendent in 2017 and announced his pending retirement in 2024. At the Spotswood Board of Education April 8 meeting, Jeff Bicsko was approved as the new superintendent. Most recently, Bicsko was the Assistant Superintendent for the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools. His start date is July 1.
After six years as superintendent and 11 in the district, Ranelli informed Piscataway in January that he was leaving to become Superintendent of the Lower Merion School District, a suburb on Philadelphia's Main Line in March. With more than 28 years in education, Ranelli previously served five years as the district's assistant superintendent. Piscataway's Board of Education tapped former Manville school administrator Johanna Ruberto as interim superintendent at its March 13 meeting. Ruberto, the Somerset County Superintendent of the Year in 2014, began her term in April.
At a May Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Valeski announced he accepted an offer for a new position, yet unnamed, and will leave East Brunswick Public Schools on Feb. 1. A 33-year education veteran, Valeski has been with East Brunswick for 11 years, making him the district's longest-serving superintendent. The district has begun a search for the next superintendent.
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Cheryl Makin is an award-winning feature, news and education reporter forMyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: [email protected] or@CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.