Joan Krasnisky Named Mercer County Superintendent of the Year

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Joan Krasnisky, Superintended at Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf in Ewing, was named the 2022 Mercer County Superintendent of the Year.

The Mercer County Association of School Administrators (MCASA), made the announcement Thursday.

“During this unprecedented and extremely challenging time in education, Krasnisky has been a strong and effective leader, not only for the Katzenbach School but also for educators throughout the county and state,” The MCASA said in a statement.

“As schools navigated the public health crisis, Krasnisky was facing even more stressful issues, having to deal with the demands of a residential institution, the challenges of deaf teaching and learning, and the complexities of a governmental organization. Krasinski worked with stakeholders to draft a “Return to School” plan that met the unique needs of the Katzenbach learners.”

Krasinski has been the superintendent of the Katzenbach School since 2015 and has served as the school’s Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the past 18 years. She has raised issues of equity, inclusivity and promoting causes that benefit deaf learners.

“Joan is a passionate and skilled school leader who is held in high regard by her colleagues,” MCASA President and West Windsor Plainsboro School District Superintendent David Aderhold said.

“Her work during an extremely challenging time and environment was inspirational to all of us. Joan is an outstanding selection as the 2022 Mercer County Superintendent of the Year and we offer her our thanks and congratulations.”

Under Krasnisky’s leadership, Katzenbach transitioned to community-based instruction and person-centered planning. She also integrated Positive Behavior Support in School (PBSIS), in collaboration with the Boggs Center at Rutgers University, and added training in Applied Behavioral Analysis provided by the Douglass Development Disabilities Center at Rutgers. She has also been instrumental in increasing and enhancing security measures on the school’s campus.

Krasnisky earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Speech Correction and a Master’s in Deaf Education from Bloomsburg University. She earned a Master’s in Educational Administration from the University of Scranton.

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