Here's How Much School Administrators Make In Chatham: New Data

CHATHAM, NJ — It's becoming more common for superintendents, principals, and educational administrators state-wide to earn more than $150,000, including in Chatham, according to data from the New Jersey Department of Education.

Patch pulled salary data that includes superintendents, principals and assistant principals, curriculum directors and other employees in administrative positions within New Jersey schools.

Data from the State Taxpayer’s Guide to Education Spending includes median administrator salaries for all of New Jersey’s public school districts, including charter and vocational schools.

Statewide, the median administrator's salary was $137,219 in 2022–23, up from $133,209 in 2021–22, with a ratio of 140.3 students per administrator in '22–23.

There are 85 districts and charter schools, out of more than 660 statewide, whose median administrative salaries were $150,000 or more for 2022–23, according to the data.

The median income for district administrators in the School District of the Chathams was $152,372, which is an increase from $148,480 the previous year.

Here are the top earners in Chatham, along with their current or most recent position and most recent salary. All data comes from the New Jersey Department of Education:

1. Michael LaSusa: Superintendent, $252,788
2. Peter Daquila: Business Administrator/Board Secretary, $187,652
3. Jill Gihorski: Principal at Chatham Middle School, $177,263
4. Douglas Walker: Principal at Chatham High School, $170,607
5. Mary Donohue: Assistant Superintendent, $170,000
6. Cheryl Russo: Principal at Lafayette Avenue School, $167,689
7. Nicholas Andreazza, Principal at Milton Avenue School, $165,989
8. Kristine Dudlo: Principal at Washington Avenue School, $158,439
9. Peter Trebour: Assistant Principal at Chatham Middle School, $157,274
10. Marco Freyre: Principal at Southern Boulevard School, $156,325
11. Sean Devine: Chatham Middle School/Chatham High School Assistant Principal, $156,138

In comparison, teachers in the School District of the Chathams made a median annual salary of about $79,095 during the 2022–23 budget year, according to state education officials.