When Mackey Pendergrast was hired as the Morris School District superintendent in 2015, board members insisted they had found a gem.
They were right, according to the New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA).
Pendergrast is the state’s Superintendent of the Year, the association announced on Wednesday.
“Mackey is an excellent role model for all aspiring chief education officers to emulate. He is a results-oriented professional who continually strives to improve the quality of education for all students through his knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm,” NJASA Executive Director Richard G. Bozza said in a statement.
Pendergrast, 53, called it an “immeasurably rewarding experience… to be part of the Morris School District’s unique ‘community of communities’ and to see it ascend.”
Representing a state at the forefront of innovation in public education, he added, “is an especially profound honor.”
The award continues a run that started for Pendergrast in June, when he was named Morris County’s top superintendent. That was followed with North Jersey regional honors in September.
He edged out fellow regional winners David Aderhold of West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District and David Trethaway of the Manchester Township School District for Superintendent of the Year.
The final jewel in the crown would be the national prize, which will be announced in February 2020 by the American Association of School Administrators.
The NJASA was impressed by:
- Dramatic, across-the-board improvements in reading and writing test scores–tripling in some cases–at Frelinghuysen Middle School over the last four years.
- A steady rise in participation in honors-level and AP classes; the number of AP exams passed by students at Morristown High School (MHS) has more than doubled since 2015.
- Morristown High School’s top spot in Morris County for the number of students enrolled in BC Calculus and Physics C, the highest-level math and science courses.
Integration of technology–Wi-Fi for students who need it, Chromebooks for all pupils in grades 6-12, and “blended learning” strategies combining traditional and high-tech teaching methods–also were noted by the association.
A “preschool expansion of historic proportions,” new STEM programs, and an emphasis on inclusion and “social emotional learning” in the District were cited, too.
What sets Pendergrast apart, according to Lisa Pollak, president of the Morris School District board, are a deliberative approach, “his patience coupled with his passion, his systems approach to problem solving, his confidence and his perseverance.”
Studying data and best practices, Pendergrast addressed achievement gaps in reading and writing, along with disciplinary issues, at the middle school. “The improvements …are astounding,” earning national recognition for the district, Pollak said.
Board Vice President Nancy Bangiola cited Pendergrast’s determination to give all students an environment in which they can thrive.
Pendergrast attracts top educators to the District, while staying mindful of community resources, Bangiola said, praising the superintendent’s honesty. “You can rely on what he tells you.”
While crediting many administrators with shaping his approach, Pendergrast said a couple stood out. One was Howie Anderson, athletic director at Summit High School when Pendergrast taught history and coached basketball there.
“He cared deeply for his community and had such a clear understanding of excellence. I still think of him often, as I have never met a person with a greater sense of integrity and courage.
“Howie once told me ‘You win with people,’ and that phrase has stayed with me for over two decades,” Pendergrast continued.
“Forming strong partnerships with community members is the key to any school district, and I have always tried to surround myself with the most dedicated and talented people who care deeply about the educational mission.”
Another mentor was Anthony di Battista, former Superintendent of the West Morris Regional School District, the position Pendergrast held when he was hired by the Morris district.
“Dr. di Battista led with tremendous empathy and intelligence and he guided me through much of my career as an educator. All of his actions were anchored in his values. I learned a tremendous amount about life from both people.”
The Morris School District comprises 10 schools and 1,000 employees, who educate 5,200 students from Morristown, Morris Township and (high school only) Morris Plains.
Student test scores have been rising even as the district absorbs a growing number of Central American immigrants with limited English- and educational backgrounds.
Morristown High School also proceeded with a $13 million expansion during Pendergrast’s watch.
Pendergrast has worked to improve communications with the school community, and the community as a whole, said Vij Pawar, who is completing his first year on the Morris School District board.
“That is a testament to Mackey in acknowledging shortcomings and working to address them,” said Pawar, a lawyer who is Morristown’s municipal attorney.
Even when they disagree, “we always have a healthy dialogue,” Pawar said. “Mackey has done a very good job in guiding the district in the right direction.”
Pendergrast, a Mendham native, is a 1988 graduate of Drew University, with master’s degrees from William Paterson University and the University of Massachusetts.
He has taught history in Summit and Mendham public schools, and served as a guidance counselor, K-12 social studies supervisor, and director of staff development. He held administrative jobs in Westfield schools, and also coached varsity basketball in Summit.
Pendergrast is married to Summit High School history teacher Andrea Laguerre, and they have two sons. How does the superintendent plan to celebrate his award?
“With a very large stack of pumpkin pancakes and plenty of maple syrup at the Morristown Pancake House with my family!”
