Prior to serving as the Superintendent of Schools for Alexandria Township, Dr. Jennings served as an Assistant Superintendent, Director of Student Services, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, and a classroom teacher.  During his time serving in these positions, he earned Masters Degrees in both Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Administration as well as a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Rutgers University.  

In addition to presenting at numerous state and national conferences, Dr. Jennings has served as an organizational behavior consultant to school districts and educational agencies throughout the United States.  He currently serves as an adjunct professor for Rutgers University, teaching courses on school administration and supervision.  Prior to this he has taught graduate level education courses for The College of New Jersey and Centenary College. 

His work has been published in Kappan, Preventing School Failure, the New Jersey English Journal, Channels, and The Writing Teacher.   He is the author of the books:  Leading Effective Meetings, Teams and Work Groups in Schools and Districts (ASCD, 2007), Creating Dynamic Educational Leadership Teams:  From Mine to Ours (Rowman & Littlefield, 2007), Before the Special Education Referral (Corwin Press, 2008) and Win-Win Strategies for IEP team Negotiations (Rowman & Littlefield, 2009) and The New Leader's Guide to a Successful First Year (Rowman & Littlefield, 2009). 

Superintendent's Chat

1 hour prior to every regularly scheduled board meeting

(Refer to the District Calendar on our website for BOE meeting dates.)

Topics for 2010 - 2011:

Curriculum – Joy Dominic (Sept)

1)      How is the content of the school curriculum determined?

2)      What are the laws & regulations governing the programs and curriculum the school must offer?

3)      What is the process used by the school district to determine, communicate, monitor and evaluate our curriculum?

4)      What is the process used by the school district to select instructional materials?

Assessment – Joy Dominic (Oct)

1)      How does the school district assess student progress?

2)      How is this assessment information used by the district?

3)      What laws & regulations govern the assessment program in the school district?

4)      How do we report progress to parents and community members?

Personnel – Dr. Jennings (Nov)

1)      How do we recruit new staff members?

2)      How do we select new staff members?

3)      How do we orient and develop staff members?

4)      How do we evaluate staff members?

5)      What laws & regulations govern the personnel requirements in the school district?

Operations – Dr. Jennings (Dec)

1)      How is the school calendar developed?

2)      What are the records a school district is required to keep?  How do we manage this process?

3)      What are the requirements for crisis prevention and response?  How are we implementing these requirements?

4)      Who reports to whom in the school district?

5)      What laws & regulations govern our operations in these areas?

Student Services – Jennifer Bills (Jan)

1)      What health services do we provide and why?

2)      What guidance services do we provide and why?

3)      What is IR&S and how does it operate in the schools?

4)      What is Section 504 and how does it operate in the schools?

5)      What is ESL?

6)      What laws & regulations govern these aspects of school operations?

Special Education – Jennifer Bills (Feb)

1)      How does a child get identified for special education?

2)      What is an IEP and what is its purpose?

3)      Who are the child study team members and what do they do?

4)      What laws & regulations govern special education

Finance – Barbara Prowker(March)

1)      How does the school budget get developed and how is it managed?

2)      How do we solicit and award contracts?  When are they required?

3)      What is the annual audit?

4)      What laws & regulations govern how the district manages its finances?

Buildings and Grounds – Barbara Prowker (April)

1)      How do we maintain our school facilities and our grounds?

2)      Who uses the schools and how do they get permission to use them?

3)      How do we maintain school security?

4)      What laws & regulations govern our management of the districts buildings and grounds?

Student Discipline – Dave Pawlowski & Sandy Kacedon (May)

1)      What is a code of conduct and how is it developed?

2)      What are the potential consequences for student misbehavior?

3)      How does the school district attempt to promote positive student behavior?

4)      What laws & regulations govern the schools actions in this area?

Community/Governance – Denise Fichner & Dr. Jennings (June)

1)      How does the school district attempt to communicate with the public?

2)      Who are the outside groups the school district coordinates with? How do we do this?

3)      What is the role of the School Board and the Superintendent?

4)      What laws define the roles and responsibilities of each?

In addition to the presentation on the topic for that evening, administrative team members will be available to answer questions and listen to comments or concerns. 

• Archived Presentations:

  Presentation on G&T Program

  Basic Skills Program

  Bullying Prevention

  Technology in the School District

  Middle School Program

  Special Education Program

  Elementary School Program

  Role of the Board & Superintendent

  Year in Review/Open Discussion