Westfield Superintendent Named 2025-2026 Union County Superintendent Of The Year

WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield's very own Dr. Raymond González has been named Union County Superintendent of the Year for the 2025-2026 school year.

This honor was awarded by the Union County Superintendents’ Roundtable, a professional group dedicated to sharing best practices in educational leadership and addressing common challenges.

"From the moment he arrived here in Westfield in 2021, and I would suggest throughout his 27 years in education, Dr. González has remained committed to an innovative, supportive, and inclusive environment for students, staff, and families," said Board President Robert Benacchio during the June 17 Board of Education meeting.

During his tenure in Westfield, González has successfully led three voter-approved budget campaigns and most recently spearheaded the approval of a $225 million bond referendum to improve the district’s facilities and resources.

"His leadership has been key in improving educational outcomes and strengthening school community ties with a focus on leveraging data and technology to enhance education and leadership," said Benacchio.

González has presented at numerous conferences, most recently "AI-Powered Governance: Work Smarter. Lead Better." at the 2025 New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA) Techspo Conference and before the New Jersey Superintendents’ Study Council (2025) and "Beyond the Cap: From the Fiscal Cliff to a Return of the Budget Vote" at the NJASA/NJAPSA Spring Conference (2025).

His publications include "Creating Equitable Environments for Students: How Data Is Driving the Way Forward" (School Leader, 2025), "Culture and Processes Affecting Data Use in School Districts" (Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education, 2007), and "Educational Tug-of-War: Internal and External Accountability of Principals in Varied Contexts" (Journal of Educational Administration, 2013).

"While I am extremely honored to receive this recognition by my Union County colleagues, it is really a testament to the amazing work of our team of educators and staff members here inWestfield. Every day, we’re focused on creating a space where everyone in the school community feels valued and supported, and where educational excellence is at the heart of all we do," stated González. "With the recent voter-approved bond referendum, we’re also poised to make great strides in improving our facilities and resources as well. I’m excited to see where we can go from here."

González earned his Doctoral and Master's Degrees in Educational Administration and Supervision from Rutgers University. He also has a Master’s in Urban Education from New Jersey City University and received a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Princeton University.

"On behalf of the Board, I want to extend our warmest congratulations and deepest appreciation to Dr. González for all that he has done and all he will continue to do for our school community and for putting all of our students first always," said Benacchio.

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