Shirley Bzdewka retired after nine years
By: Bill Greenwood
JAMESBURG Former school district Superintendent Shirley Bzdewka may be retired, but she is far from settling down.
After spending the past nine years with the Jamesburg School District, Ms. Bzdewka said she was excited to move to Florida, take some time off and "slow the pace down a bit." However, she eventually plans to get back to the grind, either working with student teachers in the field or teaching at a local college.
"I don’t think my journey’s finished," she said. "I think there’s still something left for me to do."
Ms. Bzdewka stepped down Saturday as Jamesburg superintendent and will be replaced July 17 by Gail Verona, a Plainsboro resident who was assistant superintendent of Elmwood Park in Bergen County last year.
While she now is headed for the warm weather and tranquil lifestyle of the South, Ms. Bzdewka said she will miss Jamesburg tremendously.
"I really enjoyed my time in Jamesburg," she said. "I think it was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my career (to come here)."
She also said she consistently has been impressed with the priorities of the community and district administrators.
"I have never come across people and a community that was so genuine and so dedicated to their children," she said. "From the moment I met this Board of Education, I was impressed with them."
In keeping with her tradition of activity, Ms. Bzdewka’s final month was full of big events, including eighth-grade graduation, her final Board of Education meeting and a surprise retirement reception held June 14 at John F. Kennedy School by the board and district staff.
"I was happy just to be there and just to be part of the community," she said. "I was just very appreciative of the whole thing."
She said every child in both JFK School and Grace M. Breckwedel School wrote goodbye letters to her, which she was presented with at the reception. A group of children from kindergarten through eighth grade also were on hand to sing a song for her.
"It was heartfelt," Ms. Bzdewka said. "It was absolutely beautiful."
Ms. Bzdewka said she hopes she will be remembered in the district as someone who always gave 100 percent and put the children ahead of herself.
"I think that I gave them everything I had," she said. "I think I left the district in a better place than it was, but I’m sure my successor will take it even further."
Board of Education President Don Peterson said Ms. Bzdewka will be missed.
"She did an excellent job," he said. "There was never a doubt that the kids were first and foremost in her thought process."
Mr. Peterson said losing Ms. Bzdewka has been difficult on the district, but he thinks Dr. Verona will be more than able to take over.
"We believe that we found someone in Dr. Verona who is very much like (Ms. Bzdewka)," he said. "If we’ve done that, we’ve done well for the district, and the district will benefit from it."

