The Cranbury Township Board of Education will need to search for new leadership at the Cranbury School as Chief School Administrator Susan Genco and Assistant Principal Michele Waldron announced that they will retire following the 2021-22 school year.
Genco, who has served as the chief school administrator for the past 11 years, and Waldron, who has served the school for 13 years, are set to retire at the end of the summer.
“While we recognize that transitions can create anxiety, please know we remain wholeheartedly committed to finishing the year strong and creating the blueprint for a successful 2022-23 school year,” Genco and Waldron wrote in a letter published Feb. 7.
The retirements would go into effect on Sept. 1, according to the letter.
“Without question, the greatest joy has been to witness our students’ growth over time as they identify their unique strengths and talents, overcome challenges, and celebrate their achievements. Our students are compassionate, kind, talented, creative and determined,” they wrote.
“Knowing that we have provided them with opportunities to shine in every aspect of their lives has been the cornerstone of our work. These have been the most gratifying experiences and exemplify the reason we chose careers in education.”
Genco and Waldron called the Cranbury School special and said they are excited for the school’s future.
“We will be watching with pride as those who come after us build upon the foundations we helped establish during our Strategic Planning, Community Engagement and curricular initiatives,” they added. “We are particularly excited to see the projects we championed in the recent referendum come to life. Knowing the wonderful impact those investments will have for generations to come makes our departure a little easier, somehow.”
The effort to conduct a search for a new chief school administrator and principal will be led by the school board’s Personnel Committee.
“We received the news that Dr. Genco and Mrs. Waldron plan to retire in September with mixed emotions. They have elevated our school to a new standard and made it a very special place,” Board President Pramod Chivate and Personnel Committee Chair Lindsay McDowell wrote in a letter to the school community.
“Over the last decade, both have done so much to help our kids grow and become part of this community. The Board is grateful for their service and wish them the best in their well-earned retirement.”
They added that Genco and Waldron will leave a void that will be hard to fill.
“Fortunately, Dr. Genco and Mrs. Waldron will remain in place through the summer to allow time for a thorough search for their successors. The selection of a new chief school administrator and principal is one of the most important responsibilities of a board of education,” they wrote. “Our goal is to find a candidate who will offer every student an opportunity to shine.”
Chivate and McDowell indicated that a comprehensive search for a qualified replacement may involve partnering with a search firm.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
