River Vale Superintendent Taking Job in Ramsey

After nearly a year without a permanent leader, Ramsey has a new Superintendent.

Current River Vale Superintendent Matthew Murphy was appointed Ramsey’s new Superintendent at a special Board of Education meeting Tuesday night. The BOE chose Murphy for the job after an unsuccessful Superintendent search last year, and another search over the past few months.

“We are very excited to have Dr. Murphy here,” Ramsey Board of Education President Tony Gasparovich said.

Murphy said that although he had a very positive experience as Superintendent for the past three-and-a-half years in River Vale, a K-8 district, he is excited to make the move to Ramsey.

“Ramsey has an outstanding reputation, and they are really doing exciting things here,” Murphy said of why he applied for the job. He cited the district’s 21^st Century Skills initiative, and other initiatives in the district as ones that attracted him to apply.

“There is a great group of administrators and teachers here, and it is truly a district that wants to provide a quality education to its students.”

Before becoming Superintendent in River Vale, Murphy was Assistant Superintendent in Westwood. He served previously as a principal in Westwood, and an elementary and middle school teacher and assistant principal in Wyckoff. Murphy completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Rhode Island, and has three graduate degrees, including one doctorate of educational leadership, from Long Island University and Fordham University.

The Pearl River, NY native currently lives in Ridgewood with his wife Megan – a Ramsey High School grad – and two young daughters.

RiverVale Board of Education President Lorraine Waldes was in the audience of the Ramsey Board meeting Tuesday to show her support of Murphy’s decision.

“I am not happy about it, we are going to miss him. But, [Murphy] is just a remarkable human being and a remarkable Superintendent. He deserves my respect and support, he’s earned it.”

Waldes said that the RiverVale District will now enter a Superintendent search of its own.

“We are angry at the state for the way it has made Superintendents have to move around like this,” she said, referring to the state-mandated Superintendent salary cap.

Though Ramsey district officials said the details of Murphy’s contract in the borough are not yet finalized, they said it will be a 5-year contract that it “cap compliant.” Given Ramsey’s size, the state caps a Superintendent’s salary at $157,000. 

Murphy will likely start this summer.

Though district officials said, possibly due in part to the cap, it only received 13 applications for the job during this year’s search, it was not willing to settle on a permanent choice.

“Dr. Murphy’s philosophy matches our district’s perfectly,” board member Carrie Williams said when introducing the movement to name Murphy Superintendent.

“I am very excited and proud to become a part of the Ramsey district,” Murphy said Tuesday night.

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