Manchester Schools Director of Curriculum Retires, Middle School Principal Takes Spot

After four-and-a-half years as the director of cirriculum for , Dr. Judith Nappi is retiring. 

"It’s been amazing to have the opportunity to work with wonderful people, such professionals," she said of her coworkers throughout the district.

It was Nappi’s job to oversee the development, as well as the implementation, of all of the curriculums for each school in the district.

“We have to follow the New Jersey core curriculum standards,” Nappi said. The development of the curriculum stems from the district’s specific needs, as well as including new initiatives. Nappi also maintained the No Child Left Behind Act from the Elementary Secondary Act.

Nappi began her career as a teacher, but said that she had always wanted to work in administration. She first taught psychology and social studies before becoming a grade-level administrator at Ridgewood High School, where she was in charge of class activities for half of the student body there.

She then spent five years as a vice principal and twelve years as a principal, but wanted to try something new.

“I felt it was time to move and started looking for new positions. I saw this position open and it was very exciting for me,” Nappi said.

The appeal, she said, was the township itself as well as overseeing more of the big picture.

“First of all, the opportunity to work in Manchester and the opportunity to work at the district level,” she said. “I had a lot of experience for middle and high school so I felt that prepared me well."

Dan Keiser, the supervisor of instruction for math and science, worked closely with Nappi and the teachers to decide what students are taught and how the lesson plans are written to maintain standards.

“She’s extremely intelligent and competent,” Keiser said of Nappi. “She’s very good at what she does.”

Nappi has always kept the students’ best interests in mind and worked with the teachers to best serve them, said Diane Pedroza, the principal at . She mentioned a particular initiative that Nappi brought to the district and implemented in the elementary schools.

“It allowed for us to have a vision of how to teach young children how to read… to use a better strategy in early development,” Pedroza said. “[Nappi] has a general and genuine love for children and an understanding of the skills needed to develop the whole child. She is going to be a tremendous loss to our district.”

The Superintendent of Schools, David Trethaway, also complemented his outgoing director.

“She’s an outstanding individual with a good report with staff and administration. She was very professional and knowledgeable and always kept up with current trends in the field," he said.

As Nappi retires and leaves to pursue he own personal goals, the school board is left with a big position to fill. After advertising for candidates last month, administrators turned their focus to principal Thomas Baxter as Nappi's successor. Baxter's promotion to director was put to a vote and confirmed during the board's July regular meeting.

According to Craig Lorentzen, the district's business administrator, the search is now on for a replacement middle school principal. Lorentzen said that he expects the post to be filled at the board's next regular meeting in late August.

Nappi will remain active with the district through the summer, Trethaway said, as she helps Baxter with his transition.

"Like any job, as director of curriculum, it doesn't stop one day and then pick up anew the next," he said at the board meeting.

When asked if she had any advice for her successor, Nappi laughed and said, "Lots of advice … I just think that it’s important to make sure that everything done is backed up with research and always keep the students and their success in mind."

The aspect Nappi said she will miss most about her job is the people who made her work so enjoyable in the first place.

"The other two directors, [Director of Special Services] Oliver Lockerson and [Director of Student and Administrative Services] Kevin Burger — couldn’t ask for better coworkers,” she said. "They certainly make the job enjoyable to come to everyday."