Diskin Promoted To Millburn School Superintendent; Starts New Tenure

MILLBURN, NJ — Kathryn Diskin has officially taken the reins as the superintendent of the Millburn Public School District.

The Millburn Board of Education approved a resolution to appoint Diskin as the new superintendent at their Oct. 28 meeting. She has served as the acting superintendent since May.

“I want to thank so many of you for your well wishes as I begin my tenure as your new superintendent,” Diskin wrote in an email update to the school community on Oct. 31.

“I look forward to collaborating with the community as we continue to work toward a district that honors Millburn’s legacy of excellence, embodies innovation, inclusivity, and compassion, and evolves to meet the needs of our students’ futures,” she continued.

Diskin said several presentations made at a recent board of education meeting highlight some of these efforts:

• “The talents of our students were on display as they shared what they learned during their internships at the Millburn Short Hills Historical Society this summer. Their research gave them insights into the many facets of Millburn township and our schools.”
• “The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report was presented by the auditors from Nisvoccia LLP, CPAs, who emphasized the financial strength of our district.”
• “Our Directors of Math and ELA, Leann Martin and Oona Abrams shared the results from the spring administration of the NJSLA standardized testing.”
• “Megan Fucciarelli from US2 Consulting shared a review of the Equity Audit and discussed the Professional Development programs that will be presented to staff during this second year of their work with the district.”

In addition to these presentations, the annual Enrollment Report representing the population in our schools as of 10/15/2024 was published, and Calendars for the 2025-26 and the 2026-27 school years were approved, Diskin pointed out.

The board of education will hold a public meet-and-greet with Diskin at the Ed Center on Monday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. before the official board meeting at 7 p.m.

The Millburn Public School District released the following background information about Diskin’s qualifications:

“With 33 years of experience in education, [Kate Diskin] has held the position of Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Millburn since July 2019. She previously served as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in the Middlesex Public Schools. She has a proven track record of effective leadership at Watchung Elementary School and Hillside Gifted and Talented School in Montclair.

“Dr. Kate Diskin has led transformative educational initiatives in Millburn, prioritizing academic excellence, inclusivity, and community engagement, all anchored in a growth mindset. Her extensive administrative experience at every level and deep understanding of leading a community with high expectations make her an excellent candidate to lead the Millburn Township Public Schools into the future. Dr. Diskin is dedicated to creating a supportive environment that positively impacts the lives of Millburn students, inspiring and motivating them to achieve academic excellence. She is a highly effective leader with comprehensive institutional knowledge and firsthand insights into the needs of students, staff, and the community. Understanding the importance of longevity and stability in leadership, Dr. Diskin is fully committed to serving Millburn for the long term and has demonstrated strong and enduring dedication to the district throughout her tenure.

“Dr. Diskin holds a bachelor’s degree from Susquehanna University with a concentration in Education and a minor in Spanish. She has a master’s degree in educational administration from Kean University and is a certified teacher in K-8 and ESL and a supervisor, principal, and school administrator. Dr. Diskin earned her doctorate in Educational Administration at the University of Saint Elizabeth in 2022. She was celebrated for her exceptional achievements during her doctoral studies at Saint Elizabeth University and was inducted into the prestigious Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society.

“Dr. Diskin is married to Joe Diskin, her husband of 25 years, and she is the mother of two sons, Ryan, a senior at Auburn University, and Matthew, a senior at Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights.

WORDS OF SUPPORT

The new superintendent got words of support from several district officials and groups:

Board of Education President Viswa Reddy – “The community is looking for a change agent. Change agents are open to change and model the behavior they expect from others. They have the knowledge and experience of the organization being impacted by the change. They identify issues and find solutions. They are able to clearly convey their message and address concerns. Over the last 5-6 months, Dr. Diskin has shown that she is that change leader the community has been seeking. I look forward to a bright future for the school district with Dr. Diskin at the helm.”

Millburn Administrators Association (MAA) – “We are here tonight to express support for our students and teachers. We are committed to moving forward and working productively alongside the newly appointed Superintendent and the Board of Education for the continued success of the district.”

Jennifer Sowa, Director of Special Services – “I know that you are a student-centered administrator. My role in Millburn is to support some of our students who have difficulties and maybe do not follow the traditional path, so I look forward to working with you to support our teachers who work with those students.”

SEARCHING FOR A SUPER

The search for a new superintendent launched earlier this year. According to the Millburn Public School District:

“The search began over five months ago and was supported by the Superintendent Search firm Hazard, Young, and Attea Associates (HYA), a nationally renowned search firm focused on recruiting executive-level educational leaders. The board’s superintendent search committee comprised Viswa Reddy, Asaf Farashuddin, Kris Heinrichs, and Priya Shivani. HYA ran a robust process that adhered to the NJ statute, starting with focus group sessions and an online community survey. HYA conducted 23 focus group sessions, including four general community sessions, seven general staff sessions, and individual interviews. In addition, HYA received over 683 submissions to the online survey. These results were used to develop a Leadership Profile Report and Desired Characteristics for a new Superintendent posted on the district website. According to the surveys, the community wanted a leader who has demonstrated exemplary successful educational leadership experience in a community and school district with similar demographics expectations and needs to be a change agent with a proven track record as an innovative leader to address changing district dynamics and challenges.”

District administrators continued:

“Based on this profile, HYA advertised the job on August 9, and the board vetted 45 candidates from 11 different states nationwide. Candidates participated in a rigorous vetting, screening, and interview process to determine the best fit and type of leadership for the district, continuing to excel and reach the next level of excellence for all Millburn students. The board conducted two rounds of interviews with candidates over two weekends in September before making the decision to offer the position to Dr. Diskin.”

The contract is contingent on the review and approval of the Essex County executive superintendent. Once the executive county superintendent has approved it, the board will take action at a public meeting to approve Diskin’s contract, administrators said.

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