Middlesex Borough schools chief tapped to lead South Amboy district

MIDDLESEX BOROUGH – Superintendent of Schools Frederick D. Williams is leaving his post here on June 30 to become the head of South Amboy Public Schools the next day.

Middlesex Borough Board of Education members accepted Williams' resignation at the April 25 meeting after the South Amboy school board approved Williams as its new superintendent on March 28. His contract will run through June 30, 2025.

Williams follows Jorge E. Diaz, who left South Amboy in March to become superintendent of Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools. Martin Gurczeski, the district's director of Early Childhood Education, was named South Amboy's acting superintendent for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year.

Williams came to Middlesex in July 2019 and led the district through the pandemic and its referendum planning and approval on March 8. By a wide margin, borough voters approved a $9.1 million referendum to fund improvements to four of the district's six schools.

Williams replaced Linda Madison, who retired after six years as Middlesex Borough’s schools chief.

Before coming to Middlesex, Williams was a principal at William L. Dickinson High School in Jersey City for five years and an assistant principal for two years and principal for eight years in the Highland Park school district.

Williams began his career in education in 1996 as an English teacher in a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina elementary school and then in a Charlotte, North Carolina middle school. He came north and continued as an English teacher at East Orange High School for five years.

Williams had eight years of classroom experience as an elementary, middle and high school teacher before becoming a school administrator.

More: Middlesex Borough voters overwhelmingly approve $9 million in school improvements

More: Middlesex school district sued in federal court over alleged 'systemic racism'

He earned his doctorate from The College of Saint Elizabeth in 2013, his master's degree from New Jersey City University in 2003 and his bachelor's degree from University of South Carolina in 1996.

Several speakers at the April 25 meeting told Williams he will be missed and praised his accomplishments during a difficult time.

"It is unfortunate but not surprising to see the resignation of Dr. Williams in the meeting minutes." said Elyse Robbins. "Unfortunately many don't agree with this change and I'm worried about the programs that have been started with the momentum we have taken in the last three years. And from what I've seen, Dr. Williams has met the goals he came in to do so I really do sincerely hope the district takes time to find a new superintendent that represents a large part of our changed school community.

Robbins alluded to a recent lawsuit filed by the father of a Middlesex High School student over alleged "systemic racism" as the "elephant in the room."

"People are actually reporting problems now and it's going through which is amazing," Robbins said

The school board could not comment on the lawsuit or resignation.

The school board also accepted the resignation of Middlesex High School principal Dana Chibbaro as of June 30 and approved the contract of Assistant Superintendent Roberta Freeman through June 2023.

email: cmakin@gannettnj.com

Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Middlesex Borough NJ schools chief tapped to lead South Amboy district