By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY When new School Superintendent Nancy Gartenberg received a letter from the consulting team from University of Pennsylvania asking her to apply for the open position in Montgomery it seemed like fate.
”It was exciting and I was flattered by the opportunity because the Montgomery School District was a district I had always watched from afar,” said Ms. Gartenberg. “I always looked at it as one of the top districts in New Jersey.”
At the time she was in her fifth year as superintendent of South Hunterdon Regional High School District in Lambertville a district facing a referendum that could potentially merge the four districts and three superintendents into one.
If anything, the idea of potentially being the single superintendent in a district she already loved was exciting for Ms. Gartenberg. However, she knew her contract was nearing the end and the possibility of heading a larger district appealed to her.
It was also closer to home.
Ms. Gartenberg, her husband of 18 years, Steven, and their two children Samuel, 12, and Emma, 9, hail from West Windsor. The Gartenbergs moved there in 1998 after deciding it was both good for their commutes and close to family in Hamilton, Ms. Gartenberg’s home town.
It was also the place where she realized education was her calling at 9-years-old, when she was a swim instructor for her local YMCA.
”I really loved swimming and I really loved trying to communicate that love of swimming with the children,” she recalled. “They responded to me and I felt successful it made me feel good that I could teach them.”
But it was her gravitation toward leadership roles that steered her toward the administration field. Whether being designated to look after her four siblings, being her high school class president or being class president of her college’s student association it was apparent Ms. Gartenberg had a natural affinity to lead others.
Ms. Gartenberg’s path to Montgomery is chock full of education and experience, both on a teaching and administrative level. With both a bachelor and master’s degree from Georgian Court University under her belt, Ms. Gartenberg was professionally certified to be a school business administrator, principal, supervisor and superintendent at the tender age of 29.
She already had experience as a middle school teacher’s assistant in Hamilton, but was concerned with nabbing an administrative position after graduating with her master’s degree. However, Ms. Gartenberg was pleasantly surprised when the Flemington-Raritan Regional School District hired her as vice principal a mere five weeks later.
”Being impossibly young and impossibly female I decided to apply to places that might be interested in someone like me someone who was a go-getter and had a lot of knowledge for my age. Someone who would take the risk,” said Ms. Gartenberg. “Raritan took that risk.”
She quickly moved up the ladder by being promoted to principal in the same district before becoming superintendent of South Hunterdon and now, Montgomery’s superintendent.
”I am listening and learning,” she said. “It’s the same job I had before, but the community is different. I need to understand the differences and nuances so I don’t make mistakes or missteps.”
For Ms. Gartenberg, they key to the continued success of the Montgomery district is about replacing assumptions with effective communication one of the things she plans on improving this year. Her goal is to have everyone from staff and administration to students and parents know exactly what is going on at all times.
”Everywhere I go, I try to communicate that message in hope it will catch and take off. My style is one that is communicative that’s what I do,” she said. “I make sure everyone knows what everybody else knows. I am big into understanding why we do what we do.”
In addition to increasing academic rigor in the classrooms, Ms. Gartenberg said a big focus would be on social-emotional learning, or making students feel more connected to the schools.
”Caring relationships provide the foundation for lasting learning. We want to cultivate positive and caring relationships,” said Ms. Gartenberg. “When kids feel known, connected and valued in school, they are more apt to be successful later in life.”
Ms. Gartenberg said the district would also be busy with putting together a new state mandated teacher evaluation model and will launch a pilot in February of 2013.
Ms. Gartenberg didn’t think she was much different from former superintendent Earl Kim in terms of desires for district accomplishments. Mr. Kim resigned in June when he took another position in his native state of Hawaii.
”He had a lot of respect for Montgomery and for focusing on what’s important. We both have the same philosophy in letting teachers teach that’s where the real learning happens,” said Ms. Gartenberg, referring to Mr. Kim. “I walked into a terrific situation here and Earl is primarily responsible for that.”
With the new school season underway, Ms. Gartenberg has been busy getting to know staff and students. From helping kids open their lockers one of her many hidden talents, which include having a brown belt in karate to taking the time to get to know her colleagues, Ms. Gartenberg is already enmeshed in the Montgomery way of life.
”The best part is I am excited driving into work everyday. I left an amazing place and I came into an amazing place, so I feel blessed that Montgomery is what I thought it was going to be and then some,” said Ms. Gartenberg.
For her, this particular sensation is something new despite her years of experience.
”I don’t know if I have ever felt like that before in a position so soon. With Montgomery, it just feels good it feels right,” she said.

