New Somerset Hills Schools Superintendent Hired

The regional Somerset Hills School district's new superintendent, Dr. Frances Wood, currently superintendent in the Highland Park School District, was on Wednesday night hired by the Somerset Hills Board of Education and introduced to the public.

Wood, who accepted a contract for five years at an annual salary of $157,500 for each of those years, is scheduled to begin on July 1.

Longtime Somerset Hills Superintendent at the end of this year, on June 30.

"Dr. Wood has a strong background in administration, and she understands the needs of our district," Board President Donna Coons said while introducing the new top administrator to the public. "We look forward to working with her during her tenure here."

Wood has been superintendent in Highland Park schools for five years, and for the prior two years had been assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for two years.

During her school career, she also has been a high school principal and an assistant middle school principal at Highland Park, as well as a high school guidance counselor, high school teacher and basketball coach.

Wood shook hands with each board member, and thanked school officials for their warmth during the interview process.

"It's really hard to follow someone who is loved," she said, referring to Miller. She told Miller she would "take care of your district."

Wood also graduated with a B.A. from Marquette University in Milwaukee. She also holds two master's degrees, in counseling and human relations in Villanova, Pa., and a second in educational administration from St. Joseph's University in Pennsylvania. She earned a doctorate for educational leadership from Widener University in Chester, Pa., according to information released by the school board.

According to information from the district business office, Wood was among six final candidates to be interviewed for the position of schools superintendent.

The search for a new superintendent was facilitated by Gwen Thornton of the New Jersey School Boards Association, said Nancy Hunter, schools business administrator. Twenty-six applicants who were considered to meet the district's criteria were passed along to the school board for consideration, she said.

The school district also held public meetings earlier this school year to ask residents what characteristics they would like to see in a new superintendent.

In an era when it's frequent for school superintendents to hop from school system to school system, Miller has spent the past 35 years in the Somerset Hills district, where he said he began as a teacher of various technology classes at Bernards High.

Miller's current annual salary is $212,000, according to information from the school district.

Miller previously said was Somerset Hills district curriculum supervisor, vice-principal and assistant superintendent before he was appointed superintendent 10 years ago.