HAZLET The Board of Education unanimously approved Dr. Scott Ridley as the new superintendent of schools, replacing Dr. Bernard Bragen Jr.
Bragen is leaving to chair Monmouth University’s newly-created Educational Leadership Doctoral Program, according to a prepared statement from the township public school district.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to represent such a progressive school district and to serve a board of education whose forward thinking has created so many enriching opportunities for the Hazlet student body. I am eager to join a team that defines the strong educational foundation already in place and thank both Dr. Bragen and the board for the transitional support they continue to provide,” Ridley said in a prepared statement.
The board voted to approve Ridley as the new superintendent, on Oct. 2, during its monthly meeting at Cove Road School, located at 8 Cove Road.
Ridley currently serves as superintendent of schools in Union Beach and he looks forward to beginning his tenure in Hazlet on January 1, 2018, according to a prepared statement.
“The board of education is excited to have a leader with Dr. Ridley’s educational leadership to be heading the district. Dr. Ridley is the right person to lead our district into the future and continue to build upon our excellent educational programs,” Board of Education President William Kolibas said in a prepared statement.
Over the past 25 years, Ridley has taught and/or led at every level of the American educational system. Out of Albright College, he was a high school English teacher for eight years in the Freehold Regional District before earning his Masters in English Education at Rutgers University and moving to Brookdale Community College, where he taught and supervised for the next 16 years, according to a prepared statement.
“While my Union Beach experience has been rewarding, I truly look forward to serving the student body of Hazlet and helping every single student achieve his or her potential. I am especially interested in building-out the Early College Academy, an undertaking I am quite familiar with given my time at Brookdale,” Ridley said in a prepared statement.
Several “Meet the Superintendent” events will be scheduled during Ridley’s first few weeks in January, giving all of the stakeholders of Hazlet the chance to have a cup of coffee with the new superintendent and to discuss the Hazlet Township Public Schools, according to a prepared statement.
For more information visit www.hazlet.org or call 732-264-8402.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
