Chief administrator to retire in summer

Dr. Ed Gibson, chief school administrator of the Chesterfield School District, will retire in August.

By: Scott Morgan
   CHESTERFIELD — Meet Ed Gibson. Rock star.
   You might have known him as Ed Gibson, principal of Peter Muschal School in the 1970s. Or maybe as Ed Gibson, national marketing manager at AT&T in the 1980s.
   But if you were around in the ’60s, and if you’ve ever heard of the Magnatones, you know this much — the dude rocked!
   If you’re wondering whether this is the same Dr. Gibson, chief school administrator of the Chesterfield School District, it is. Just not for long, for Dr. Gibson is about to return to his doo-wop roots, now that his 25 years of service in the state’s school systems are about up. On Tuesday, during the school board’s monthly meeting, Dr. Gibson tendered his letter of retirement, which will take effect Aug. 31.
   Then it’s back to the band.
   Oh yes, the Magnatones are the real deal. Records, induction into the Wildwood Musicians Hall of Fame, the works. They’ve been kind of quiet for the past 30 years, of course, while Dr. Gibson and his band mates have gone onto other lines of work. But the Magnatones are planning to get back together this year, said Dr. Gibson; and they plan to tour South Jersey with their doo-wop sounds.
   All this, though, is but one aspect of the retired life for the 60-year-old Dr. Gibson. Yes, he’ll reclaim his place as the Magnatones’ bassist, but he’ll also do the following: a) hang out at his second home in Fort Myers, Fla., b) teach at Burlington County and Gloucester County community colleges, c) do some law work, and d) run a marathon within a year.
   All this is made possible by the fact that Dr. Gibson a) closed on the Fort Myers home last month, b) has been a teacher since he started at Cinnaminson Middle School in 1971, c) he graduated Seton Hall University Law School in 1986 and worked as a lawyer for three subsequent years, and d) because he’s in shape.
   The marathon is actually the big one, Dr. Gibson said. "My goal," he said, "is to run a marathon within a year."
   He’ll have to work at it, he said, but still — he’ll have more time to get in shape for a marathon once he’s done being chief school administrator.
   As for why he’s leaving now, after five years at the helm of the Chesterfield school district, Dr. Gibson said simply this: "It’s time to evolve."
   The very-enthusiastic-about-retiring Dr. Gibson said his run in Chesterfield has been fantastic — he’s most proud of changing the school district from one that does mediocre on state standardized tests to one that continually trumps most of the state’s schools — but it’s time to hand the reins over to whomever will take his place.
   "It’s been a great ride here," Dr. Gibson said. "The Ferris wheel’s at the top of the arc. But my goal is to get better."
   Still, it might be tough to top a feeling like this one — "I’m just as happy as I can possibly be."