Longtime Morris Superintendent To Take Role In Interim

MORRISTOWN, NJ — The Morris School District has a new superintendent — for the interim. Dr. Thomas Ficarra will become interim superintendent after Mackey Pendergrast steps down from his role Nov. 1.

Ficarra served as the district's superintendent from 2002-14. Since then, he has held interim-superintendent positions with the Hamilton Township, Madison, South Orange/Maplewood, and Bridgewater/Raritan Regional boards of education.

"His intimate knowledge of our district’s unique strengths and challenges will be a tremendous asset and will enable the Board to focus its attention on a careful and thorough search for the next permanent superintendent," Board President Melissa Spiotta wrote in a letter to the school community.

Ficarra's contract will run through June 30 or until a permanent superintendent is appointed.

Pendergrast announced last month he will retire from public education in November, having served as the district's superintendent since 2015. Read more: Morris Schools Superintendent Mackey Pendergrast Stepping Down

"While I look forward to the new opportunities in my professional future, this moment is certainly bittersweet," he wrote Aug. 9. "Serving the Morris School District has been the highlight of my career in public education, and I will miss working for and with this beautiful community."

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