Bloomfield School Official Earns Nod As ‘Superintendent Of Year’

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The superintendent of the Bloomfield Public School District has brought home a prestigious award to the community.

Salvatore Goncalves was recently recognized as the 2021-2022 Essex County Superintendent of the Year.

According to Bloomfield school officials, the honor pays tribute to superintendents who exhibit a “leadership for learning, communication, professionalism, and active participation in community involvement with an understanding of regional, national, and international issues.”

Goncalves said the achievement was a true team effort.

“I recognize that this award is a direct result of the team approach we strive for with the Board of Education, directors, principals, supervisors, teachers, staff, students and families in the Bloomfield community,” Goncalves said.

“I am humbled and honored to be selected by my peers,” the superintendent added.

The Bloomfield school district offered the following background information about Goncalves:

“Mr. Goncalves has served as the Bloomfield Superintendent of Schools since 2013 after spending nearly 40 years in the teaching and administrative ranks in the Bloomfield School District. In discussing his tenure as Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Goncalves mentioned that he is particularly proud of the efforts of his administrative team in addressing the learning differentials that have historically plagued his district from both a socioeconomic and geographic perspective. Goncalves’ vision for Bloomfield has resulted in a one-on-one Chromebook initiative for all pupils buttressed with the addition of multiple content interventionists who target core content areas to close achievement gaps based on student assessment data. Under his leadership, the district website has been significantly overhauled to focus on parent/guardian communication with central office and school officials and Bloomfield has taken a proactive social media presence to showcase its resources, tools and professional contacts. Mr. Goncalves’ regular outreach to the community via social media and through virtual backpack has promoted district goals and created community involvement necessary to foster constituent buy-in. He established a partnership with Sandy Hook Promise and Dylan’s Wings of Change/Wingman organizations in order to provide all youth a positive, character-building school experience.”

Bloomfield school officials continued:

“During his 47 years with Bloomfield Public Schools, Mr. Goncalves has been recognized by numerous organizations for his effective leadership. He was the honorary recipient of the Bloomfield Education Foundation’s Educator of the Year, the NJSPRA Communication Award Winner, Grand Prize Sandy Hook Promise National Award of Excellence - Start With Hello, MSUNER Network for Educational Renewal award winner, and recognized by the 9/11 Foundation for his school leadership. He has maintained affiliations with the Junior Nationals Young Leaders, Bloomfield College, the NJ Schools to Watch Organization, Montclair State University, NASSP, City Green Early Childhood Center Growing Healthy Schools, and the NFL Play 60. He brings with him past expertise as an elementary teacher, junior high school teacher, coach, middle school principal, Interim Director of Personnel, and Superintendent. Sal holds a B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in Sociology from New Jersey City University and an M.A. in Administration and Supervision from Montclair State University. An active member of our community, Mr. Goncalves lives in Bloomfield and enjoys spending time with his children and two grandchildren... with another grandchild on the way.”

Richard Tomko of the Belleville Public School District earned the award in 2020-2021, and Verona Superintendent of Schools Rui Dionisio was recognized as the 2019-2020 winner.

• See related article: Essex County's School Superintendent Of Year Is From Belleville
• See related article: Verona Resident Named 'Essex County Superintendent of the Year'

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