Brick's New Schools Chief Comes From West Windsor Plainsboro

BRICK, NJ -- Gerard Dalton, the assistant superintendent in the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, will become the new Brick Township superintendent in July.

Dalton, 52, was approved by the Board of Education Thursday night after a five-month search and interview process. He will receive a four-year contract with a starting salary of $190,000 for the 2018-19 school year, with annual raises that will bring his salary to $196, 584 for the 2021-22 school year.

He has been the assistant superintendent in the West Windsor district for five years and was a principal in that district for the three years prior to that.

"He is the consummate champion for students," said David Aderhold, the West Windsor Plainsboro superintendent. "This is a tremendous loss for the West Windsor Plainsboro community."

Aderhold said the two have worked together for eight years. "I have never met a greater advocate for children."

"Selfishly I want to tell you the hiring of Gerard Dalton is a bad idea," said Michele Kaish, vice president of the West Windsor Plainsboro Board of Education. "This is a man who deeply cares about district families and staff. He has the hugest heart and builds relationships."

"His departure will truly be a loss to the West Windsor Plainsboro School District," Kaish said. "Know you have served your district extremely well" by hiring him.

Dalton is a 1984 graduate of Kearny High School and holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and management and a master's degree in educational leadership and administration, both from St. Peter's University in Jersey City. He has taught at a number of schools in New Jersey, starting with a two-year stint in the Newark school system as a sixth-grade teacher and later as a seventh-grade teacher in the Warren schools and the Chester schools before becoming an assistant principal in Chester in 2000. He also worked as an administrator in the Lebanon school district and in Clinton before joining the West Windsor schools in 2010.

As assistant superintendent in the West Windsor Plainsboro schools, he oversees pupil services, special education, guidance, athletics, and crisis management, as well as other areas.

Dennis Filippone, who has been serving as acting superintendent of the Brick Township schools since the beginning of the school year, will return to his previous role as the district's director of planning, research and evaluation.

"We need long-term leadership," Filippone said in welcoming Dalton. "We have had 10 superintendents in 10 years and that is not good for any district."

Brick Board President Stephanie Wohlrab said she was looking forward to having him join the district.

"This ends a very long and difficult process," she said. The district received 30 applications and the committee interviewed eight people before choosing Dalton.

"He has an extensive special education background," Wohlrab said after the meeting, adding that she believes his skills and personality will complement the talented staff who are in the district.

Dalton thanked the board and called the hiring process "very humbling."

After the meeting, he said he applied for the position because he was ready to take on the next challenge. Brick is similar in size to West Windsor Plainsboro and that size made him very comfortable.

"I'm aware of the challenges they have faced," Dalton said, "and I hope to bring some stability to the district."

The board vote included an abstention by John Lamela, who is an assistant principal in the Jackson Township schools and abstained due to conflict. "Do not read anything into this," he said.

"I have heard nothing but good things about you," Lamela said to Dalton. "Welcome to the district."

Photo by Karen Wall, Patch staff