Morris School Board Announces Hiring of New Superintendent

After searching for more than seven months, the Morris School District found its man, and evidently didn’t have to go very far.

On Monday night the board of education approved hiring Mackey Pendergrast as its new superintendent, effective July 1. Pendergrast is currently the superintendent of nearby West Morris Regional High School District, which includes West Morris Central and Mendham High Schools.

The greatest change for the new schools chief will come in the form of size. West Morris Regional High School District has an enrollment of approximately 2,800 students, while the Morris School District is approximately 5,700. Pendergrast will earn a salary of $165,000 and will be the district’s first full time superintendent since Dr. Thomas Ficarra left his post Oct. 1, 2014.

“Mr. Pendergrast is a creative and visionary educational leader recognized nationally for technology innovation,” board of education vice president Dr. Peter Gallerstein said when introducing Pendergrast Monday night. “He believes that every child can succeed and is committed to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to do so. We are delighted to welcome him to our district and confident he will lead our schools to great heights.”

“This is a very exciting opportunity for me,” Pendergrast told Patch shortly after the Morris School District Board of Education made its approval vote. “I’m eager to be engaged with a larger school district and have the opportunity to make a positive influence on the kids.

State and national rankings for both Mendham and Central rose during Pendergrast’s tenure, while he implemented extensive writing curricula across all classes and expanded Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes. He was under a five-year contract set to expire in 2018 with the regional district, and was hired in March 2012 after spending a dozen years as a teacher, guidance counselor, and administrator there.

Pendergrast will take over for interim superintendent Catherine Mozak and is scheduled to begin July 1.

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