Wayne school board names new superintendent of K-12 district
By: Philip DeVencentis
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
WAYNE - An award-winning educator from Middlesex County was selected this week [04/16/2025] to be the next superintendent of the local school district.
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David Cittadino,56, a native of Bergenfield and the longtime chief of schools for K-12 district in Old Bridge Township, was appointed Wednesday [04/16/2025] at a special public meeting at the Board of Education office on Nellis Drive.
..... He will succeed Schools Superintendent Mark Toback, 56, who is retiring on August 1 [2025] serving in the role for more than a decade.
..... Cittadino who holds a master's degree in education administration from Kean Universe, will be paid a prorated salary of $284,000 in the initial year of the approved employment pact, which expires at the of June 2029.
..... The incoming superintendent attended the meeting with his wife, Michele Cittadino, to thank trustees for putting their faith in him.
..... "I promise to bring you safe and secure schools," he said, moments after a formal introduction.
..... "That's my guiding factor in everything I do," he added. "Our children come to school every day, and we should send them home a little safer, a little smarter, a little happier and a little healthier - if we do that every day, we're doing our jobs. No one should ever come to school to learn or work in fear."
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Cittadino also promised to be an omnipresent figure at community functions and to be open to new ideas. He said he has a reputation for making learning fun and that he often brings his Labrador retrieve, named Daisy, to school to "make new friends."
..... Donald Pavlak Jr., the school board president, said Cittadino was among five candidates who interviewed for the open position. thirty-two people applied, he said.
..... Choosing a superintendent is the most important responsibility of the nine-member school board, Pavlak said. "Mr Cittadino rose to the top of a highly qualified pool of candidates due to his exceptional record and vision for public education," he said. "His dedication to student's his deep respect for educators and his ability to lead with integrity and transparency make him an ideal fit."
..... the months-long hut was guided bu Moorestwon-based Comegno Education Institute. The search firm administered an Online survey, and hosted several focus groups and open forums, to collect feedback about qualities that faculty and parents wanted in a new boss of the K-12 district.
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Cittadino started his career as a six-grade teacher at Theodore Roosevelt Middle School Number 5 = in the Elizabeth K-12 district. Most of his work since then has involved administration duties for the Old Bridge Township distinct, which is about the same size as the Wayne school system. He has been its superintendent since July 2013.
..... Last year, [2024] he was named the "most outstanding" superintendent by the New Jersey PRA at an awards ceremony in Atlantic City. The annual honor is giving to a school district leader who is supportive of the organization.
..... Citadino, announced his resignation from the Old Bridge Township district in a letter and video message on Facebook, saying in part that he was proud of the "significant milestones" achieved during his tenure.
..... "We've built a school system that fosters independent, lifelong learners," he wrote Wednesday, [04/16/2025] after the meeting. The district, he added, "developed an educational product hat stands well above where we began."