Princeton Superintendent Judy Wilson Announces Retirement

Princeton Public Schools Superintendent Judy Wilson announced Thursday that she will retire effective Dec. 31, 2013. 

Wilson has served as Princeton superintendent since 2005. In her 35 years in public education, She has been an English teacher, reading specialist, curriculum supervisor, assistant superintendent and superintendent.

She is leaving six months shy of the end of her contract, which is set to expire on June 30, 3014. 

"That's all a very personal decision," Wilson said Thursday night of her decision to step down early. "It didn't have anything to do with the district or the board. It's all about family."

The Princeton Board of Education has hired Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to conduct a national search for Wilson’s successor.

“This is a bittersweet moment for Princeton,” Board President Timothy Quinn wrote in a statement. “We’re very happy for Judy as she starts a new chapter of her life, but we will sorely miss her student-focused leadership, hard work and dedication to public education. During Judy’s time here, an already well-regarded district became even better. There can be no greater testament to her tenure as our superintendent.”

According to an article in the Jan. 31, 2013 edition of the Princeton Packet, Wilson would have had to take a pay cut of more than $57,000 if she wanted to continue her position after her contract expired. 

That's because a state-mandated salary cap would apply to Wilson's new contract, meaning her future maximum salary would be $167,500, a $57,390 pay cut from her current salary of $224,890, according to the Packet. 

"It was never my intention to enter into a new contract under those terms," Wilson said of the mandated pay cut. In the big picture (not me specifically) I think that will pose many issues across the state in terms of retaining, recruiting and attracting really fine leaders to do critically important work."

Wilson gave nine months notice of her retirement, more than double the four months required. 

"I deeply care about this district and the community and what the next steps are," she said. "I wanted to give every advantage to the Board of Education to search for its next top notch leader."

As for her next steps, Wilson has no intention of living a life of leisure. 

"I will work full-time at the next stage of my career," she said. "I'm truly trying to decide what I want to do when I grow up. It will probably be about more learning, but I don't know where that will take me. 

In a prepared statement released Thursday, the board outlined Wilson's accomplishments leading Princeton schools, including:

• adopted a standards-based curriculum for pre-K trough grade 12 that is consistently implemented among all schools and at all grade levels. 
• led a district-wide effort to increase student achievement overall while narrowing gaps between students, particularly among economically disadvantaged students.
• initiated a system to monitor individual student achievement through regular formative assessments.
• expanded professional learning opportunities for teachers and administrators. 
• launched a series of initiatives to improve communication between all school stakeholders and the greater Princeton community.

“The Princeton Public School district is a very special community of leaders and learners in all positions: volunteers, teachers, support staff, administrators, parents and, especially, students,” Wilson wrote in a letter to the board. “My life has been influenced in many positive ways and my thinking and learning have been strengthened by the work of leading this complex, dynamic and successful district. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have worked with so many exceptional board members, educators and staff members over the years.”

Quinn said Wilson will remain fully engaged in the operations of the district for the next nine months and will work to enable an orderly leadership transition. 

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Judy for five years as a board member and have seen firsthand how her hard work has been translated into actions that have improved outcomes for all of our students,” he said. “She has led our district through an unprecedented time of growth against a backdrop of turbulence for public education nationally and in New Jersey. When you talk with others involved in education in the state, you realize what a treasure we’ve had here in Princeton. She will be a tough act to follow.”