The Haddon Township Board of Education on Thursday voted to hire Nancy Barbara Ward as its next superintendent of schools.
Ward, 60, has been the superintendent in Runnemede for the past four years and served in the same position in Pilesgrove, Salem County before that. She has been an educator for 36 years and is a graduate of William Patterson, Rowan and Seton Hall universities.
Ward said she's excited about the opportunity to return to a K-12 district like Haddon Township.
"This is a premier school district," Ward said. "I'm looking forward to coming back to a K-12 district where you can see students grow from preschool through high school."
Ward thinks the key challenges for Haddon Township schools include the new teacher evaluation system, teacher tenure and funding issues.
Her hire caps a seven-month search. She replaces Mark Raivetz, who retired in June after 13 years as superintendent. She will be paid $152,000 annually.
Ward will start on April 8 after winding down her duties in Runnemede; her contract with Haddon Township runs through June 2017.
Ward said her message to parents in Haddon Township is: "I'll always put their children first."
