After a five-month search, the East Windsor Regional School District Board of Education has named Mark Daniels to be the district’s next superintendent of schools, effective Feb. 1, 2019.
Board members appointed Daniels at their Dec. 10 meeting. At present, Daniels is the assistant superintendent for educational services in the Plainfield Public School District in Union County.
The Plainfield Public School District enrolls 8,000 students, spread across 15 schools. The East Windsor Regional School District enrolls 4,500 students in six schools.
Daniels will succeed Richard Katz, whose resignation took effect Sept. 1. Katz served as the district’s superintendent of schools for three years.
Michael Dzwonar, the district’s assistant superintendent of curriculum and assessment, has been serving as the acting superintendent. Dzwonar will return to his position after Daniels joins the district.
The search for a new superintendent began in August and included four rounds of interviews. West Hudson Associates conducted the search process.
Administrators said Daniels was selected from among a field of 16 finalists. The finalists were chosen because they met the superintendent search profile developed by West Hudson Associates with input from the community.
Daniels thanked the board members for their vote of confidence in him by choosing him to lead the school district. He said he was “extremely humbled and honored” to be selected for the top administrative post.
“I am eager to get to work and begin the leadership required to successfully nurture and develop the academic and social-emotional needs of each student within this diverse learning community,” Daniels said.
Board president Alice Weisman said the superintendent search was a community-wide effort. She said Daniels possesses the qualities that were identified in the ideal candidate profile.
“Mark Daniels not only possesses the knowledge, passion and leadership skills we desired, but he also has a keen understanding and commitment to the diversity we cherish as a community,” Weisman said.
Daniels earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass media and Africana studies from Rutgers University. He also holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Cheyney University.
He began his 23-year career in education as a teacher in the Camden City School District, and then worked in the South Brunswick School District before moving on to the Plainfield Public School District.
Daniels advanced professionally to become the principal of an elementary school and a middle school, and also held the position of director of human resources. In addition, he has served as the assistant superintendent for human resources, assistant superintendent for curriculum and acting superintendent of schools.
