Bethlehem
educator to lead Hackettstown School
District
Monday, May 30, 2005 • By
ANDREA EILENBERGER • The
Express-Times
HACKETTSTOWN -- The board of education
holds high expectations for the leader of its district,
which is why its superintendent search spanned three months,
a series of interviews, and a community forum.
Bob Gratz, a Bethlehem resident and
Newton School District superintendent, will replace Joanne
Calabro as the Hackettstown School District
superintendent.
Gratz, 51, said he knows he has big shoes
to fill, but he is ready for the challenge.
"I embrace high expectations; I come from
three schools where expectations were high," he
said.
He was appointed superintendent Wednesday
night during the board's meeting.
Calabro submitted her resignation in
January to take effect July 1. She is taking a job as the
superintendent of the Fort Lee, N.J., School District.
Calabro earned an annual salary of $156,000 as the
Hackettstown superintendent and Gratz will earn $153,000
when he takes over, board of education President Bruce Smith
said.
Gratz earned a bachelor's degree from
Moravian College and a master's degree from Lehigh
University.
He began his 30-year career in education
at the Voorhees School District, where he served 11 years as
a social studies teacher and later returned for four years
as the principal. He served nine years in the Belvidere
School District where he was vice principal, principal and
then superintendent. He is now wrapping up his sixth year as
superintendent of the Newton School District.
The Hackettstown district has about 1,900
students and Newton has about 1,700 students. Both are K-12
districts.
"I've had a wonderful six years in Sussex
County, but 24 years of my 30-year career have been spent in
the Warren and Hunterdon areas, and it's nice to return home
to that," Gratz said. "I think that is where my roots
are."
Initially, the position appealed to Gratz
because it is closer to his Bethlehem home and would mean
less of a commute. Once he met with district members and
visited the schools more than the location was appealing, he
said.
"There was such a sense of connectivity
among the parents, teachers and students," he said. "I felt
welcomed instantly and wanted to become a part of the
Hackettstown family."
Lorinda Ravo, board of education vice
president, said she wants to see Gratz continue that strong
community tie as well as to further the district's recent
academic achievements.
"The district has made strong strides
during (Calabro's) tenure, and we want to see that momentum
continue," Ravo said. She said Calabro helped further
programs that provide college credits and early graduation
options to high school students. She also said district
students performed at the top of standardized testing during
Calabro's term.
Smith said he was impressed with Gratz's
scope of educational and administrative experience as well
as his confident management style. Smith said he wanted to
secure a district leader who is "visionary," and who could
use creative means to handle school finances.
"I wanted to find someone who would look
for ways to move this district ahead while understanding
that the funding process in the state is so difficult and
restrictive," Smith said. "It takes a great deal of
imagination to do that."
During the community forum, Ravo said
some residents questioned whether the candidates viewed the
music and arts programs as priorities. This school year, the
district eliminated one teacher in the music department due
to budget constraints, but plans to reinstate the position
next year.
Gratz said Thursday that academics remain
a top priority for him, but he feels student development
demands a rounded education.
"The ancillary programs are a major part
of a student's education, whether it is drama, music,
athletics, art or other co-curricular activities," he said.
"Balancing those academic and experiential opportunities may
be tough with limited state funding, but we need to be open
with the community as to what funding is available and what
other creative means we can use to locate
funding."
Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at
908-475-8044 or by e-mail at
aeilenberger@express-times.com.
© 2005 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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