It’s unanimous: Michael LaSusa officially named next Princeton Public Schools superintendent

The board of education for Princeton Public Schools voted unanimously Wednesday, Jan. 8, to appoint Michael LaSusa as the next permanent superintendent, to the applause of more than 50 people who packed the meeting room.

LaSusa, currently the superintendent of the School District of the Chathams in Morris County, was chosen to lead Princeton schools after a national search that began in the fall.

School Board President Dafna Kendal said 37 people applied for the job, including 17 current superintendents. Sixteen candidates were selected for screening interviews. The entire school board received the résumés of all candidates, including the board members elected in November, Kendal said. The board interviewed eight candidates in person.

“One candidate rose to the top, and that is Dr. Michael LaSusa. We are thrilled to welcome Mike to our district. He has a proven record of success in many administrative roles in the Chathams since he was hired as a teacher there more than 20 years ago. He has served there in many positions, including as a superintendent of schools, for the past 13 years, and we look forward to his leadership here in Princeton,” Kendal said.

“Princeton is a lighthouse district, and we know that Mike will make our light shine even brighter,” Kendal said. “Mike is also committed to equity and the belief that all children can succeed. We’re confident that he has the skills to make meaningful improvements in the education of all our students, and specifically the education of students of color and students receiving special education and related services.”

LaSusa will begin working in Princeton on July 1. Kathie Foster will continue serving as interim superintendent until June 30.

“We can’t thank Kathie enough for her strong and compassionate leadership for our district,” Kendal said, adding that Princeton Public Schools is a better district thanks to Foster’s “strong, positive and inspiring leadership” since November 2023.

Kendal said Foster is committed to ensuring a smooth transition over the next six months.

LaSusa spent Wednesday visiting all six public schools in Princeton. He also met with union leaders. He was joined by his wife, Jessica, and his twin sons, Carter and Thad, who will graduate from Mendham High School in June.

“Every single person I’ve met today, from the tech guys to the custodians to the principals to the teacher aides and the lunch aides, has been so phenomenally welcoming and enthusiastic, and they have exuded a pride in this community that I honestly didn’t anticipate before today,” LaSusa said. “I’m leaving a place where I’ve been for 23 and a half years. And to just put that into some real terms, my first full week of employment as a teacher in Chatham was the week of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.”

LaSusa said he didn’t own a cellphone at the time, there was no such thing as district email, and teachers weren’t able to dismiss classes.

“There were numerous residents lost on that day, including parents of students in the school building I was teaching in, Chatham High School. And as the day went on, my classes became smaller and smaller because parents were picking their children up and students were streaming out of the building,” LaSusa said. “I grabbed a cassette player that had an antenna and a radio dial, and I just sat with my students and listened to the broadcast of what was happening. And it was probably the first time in my career, looking back now, that I realized how vital schools are in the lives of children and their families.”

LaSusa said it took a lot for him to leave that district after 23 and a half years.

“What it took was a prospective opportunity that I thought was so special and singular that I couldn’t not pursue it. Princeton is a special place. It’s historic, it’s important. It’s a leader,” LaSusa said. “What drew me to the district specifically was the diversity of the student body, including the language diversity.”

LaSusa said there are some commonalities between the two districts that led him to believe he could contribute to Princeton Public Schools in a meaningful way. He also said the values he observed in the schools and community made him decide to apply for the job.

Jill Weber, a school board member in Chatham, attended the Princeton Board of Education meeting and spoke during public comment, saying her community’s loss is Princeton’s gain and that she is grateful for LaSusa’s many years of service.

“His dedication, his vision, and his unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on our school district and the community at large. Everybody loves Mike,” Weber said. “It’s bittersweet to see him move on. I’m excited for him and confident that he will bring the same extraordinary leadership and transformative influence to Princeton. I want to stress the transformative word. He is going to light your world on fire. You’ve made an exceptional choice, one that will have a monumental impact on your district for years to come.”

Teri Boyd, from Princeton Parents of Black Children, and Milena DeLuca, from the PPS Parent-Teacher Organization, both welcomed LaSusa. Crystal Riddick, the supervisor of special education at Princeton High, congratulated LaSusa on behalf of the Princeton Administrators Association, and Princeton High Principal Cecilia Birge welcomed him on behalf of the high school community.

After the board voted on the appointment, attendees celebrated with cake.

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