MANVILLE: Flemington educator named schools chief

By Eileen Oldfield, Staff Writer
   The Board of Education approved an offer to Flemington resident Johanna Ruberto, 59, to be the next district superintendent at Monday’s reorganization meeting.
   Currently assistant superintendent for the Rockaway Township School District, Dr. Ruberto is responsible for all curriculum, instruction and professional development in the Rockaway district, and works with administrators in each school to assess those areas. She reports directly to the district’s superintendent, she said.
   Dr. Ruberto credits her father with getting her into education.
   ”He gave me two choices, nursing or education,” Dr. Ruberto said, smiling. “I was afraid of blood and I hated needles, so I became a teacher.”
   Dr. Ruberto holds a bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University, a master’s degree from Rider University and a doctorate from Seton Hall University.
   Prior to working in Rockaway, Dr. Ruberto taught high school and middle school English in the Paterson and Bound Brook school districts, and served as a principal in the Bound Brook, Franklin Township and Readington school districts.
   ”I think in a small, integrity-based community, it’s a good place to influence excellence in children,” Dr. Ruberto said. “That’s the bottom line … I think it’s important also, in towns like Manville, the education of the children is everyone’s business. Everyone has a right to know what’s going on.”
   Dr. Ruberto lists financial responsibility, improving instruction and creating an inclusive culture for students, faculty and staff as goals for the district. Her main goal is, however, integrating the town’s values to the school curriculum.
   ”This town had a value system and we’re going to translate it to the students and staff,” Dr. Ruberto said.
   Dr. Ruberto must give her current employer 90 days notice of her resignation.
   The Rockaway School District includes five elementary schools and a middle school, and has approximately 2,800 students, according to the state Department of Education. The department classifies the district as district factor group I, indicating a high socioeconomic level based on the percentage of adults in the community with high school and college degrees, unemployment and poverty rates. Manville is in the lower CD group.
   The board approved a resolution to submit the proposed contract to the executive county superintendent. Once the executive county superintendent responds — and either approves the contract or recommends changes — the board can accept the contract and make a formal appointment.
   Since it is not an official document yet, the contract details — including salary — remain confidential and could change between submitting the document and formally excepting it, board President Andrew Zangara said. Currently, Superintendent Donald Burkhardt receives a salary of $166,767; he will retire June 31 after working in the district since 2004.
   ”We wanted to open the contract so she could tender her resignation (in her current district),” Mr. Zangara said.