Citing her demonstrated strength in curriculum and technology development and her passionate vision for advancing learning, the Board of Education voted unanimously June 15 to hire Dr. Jennifer K. Diszler as the new chief school administrator/principal beginning Sept. 1, 2022.
Dr. Diszler, who currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Administration for the South Brunswick School District, was chosen from among dozens of qualified applicants during a comprehensive and extensive search, said Board of Education President Dr. Pramod Chivate.
“We were looking for a school leader who would build upon our successes and inspire a culture of high expectations for all students and staff - and we found that and more,’’ Dr. Chivate said. “In addition to her vast experience in curriculum, technology and meaningful professional development, Dr. Diszler has a positive energy and collaborative nature that we believe will resonate with our community. We are thrilled she will be joining us.”
Although Dr. Diszler will not officially begin working in the Cranbury School District until Sept. 1, she said she will be in a position to work with the board and current administration in her personal time to ensure a smooth transition.
“I am both honored and humbled by this opportunity and I am looking forward to dedicating myself to the Cranbury School District,’’ Dr. Diszler said. “I am truly excited to be joining such a highly regarded district where students are at the forefront of every decision.”
Dr. Diszler began her educational career as an elementary and middle school math teacher for 10 years before moving into administrative roles as a middle school math and science supervisor and director of professional development in the South Brunswick School District. She served for two years as the director of curriculum, instruction and technology for the North Brunswick School District before returning to South Brunswick to take the seat as assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and sdministration in 2017. A full biography is below.
Dr. Chivate said the board’s Personnel Committee, which oversaw the search along with search firm Strategic Educational Advantage, carefully considered the input it received from the Cranbury community prior to and during the search process.
“We allowed the voices of all of our stakeholders, along with our own analysis and vetting, to inform our decision and we are excited for what the future will hold,’’ Dr. Chivate said. “We will be creating opportunities for people to get to know Dr. Diszler, and for her to listen and learn about our district right from our students, staff and the Cranbury community.”
Dr. Diszler will replace CSA Susan Genco, who will retire Sept. 1 after 11 years in the district. Assistant Principal Michele Waldron is also retiring Sept. 1 after 14 years in Cranbury.
“It is so difficult to leave students, friends, families and community members who I love dearly, but it has made it the slightest bit easier knowing the district will be in such wonderful hands,’’ Dr. Genco said. “I am looking forward to doing all I can to help ensure a smooth transition and successful launch of this new chapter in the story of the Cranbury School District.”
FULL BIOGRAPHY OF DR. JENNIFER DISZLER:
Dr. Diszler began her educational career as a middle school math teacher in Somerset County and taught for 10 years at both the elementary and middle school level. While teaching, Jennifer earned her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership at Rider University in 2006. Soon after, Dr. Diszler began her administrative career as an Instructional Strategies Specialist for Innovative Designs for Education (IDE), an educational consulting group out of Ramsey, New Jersey. There she worked with teacher cohorts in various school districts to develop learner-active, technology-infused classrooms at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
She then transitioned back into the school setting and joined South Brunswick School District in 2010 as the middle school Supervisor for Math and Science. She eventually became the Director of Professional Development in 2012 and oversaw coordination of all professional learning for the district, including evaluation system, mandated policy, technology infusion, character education, and content-specific training. In 2015-2017, Jennifer served two years in North Brunswick Public Schools as Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology and then returned to South Brunswick to take the seat of Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Administration.
During her tenure as Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Diszler worked collaboratively with her team to assure fidelity, high-quality, and transparency to all content and curricular components. Additionally, Jennifer was instrumental in bringing the most current instructional technologies to the district, launching the first Career Academy for the high school, and implementing a reflective practice alternative to the evaluation model for tenured teachers. In 2021, Dr. Diszler earned her doctorate (Ed.D) in Educational Leadership at Rider University. Her research was in the area of teacher reflection.
In addition to her current role, Jennifer is a presenter for the NJ Foundation for Educational Administration. There she works collaboratively with administrators across the state to facilitate their Leadership Academy, which aims to provide professional learning that leads to the development and implementation of actions, strategies, and systems for NJ’s leaders to be successful in their organization.
Jennifer has two daughters: Sarah, a graduate of Penn State University and currently an elementary teacher in Pennsylvania, and Emme, a student athlete at The College of New Jersey pursuing a Communications major. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys playing golf, and she volunteers at Unicorn Therapeutic Horse Farm, allowing her the opportunity to care for horses and assist students with special needs as they ride.