Toms River’s newest superintendent of schools arrives by way of Monmouth County.

(L-R) Board President Joseph Tarrone and newly appointed Superintendent David Healy
(L-R) Board President Joseph Tarrone and newly appointed Superintendent David Healy (Ilya Hemlin Townsquare Media NJ)
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Former Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District head David Healy received the appointment for superintendent Tuesday night by the Board of Education.

Healy was chosen after a nationwide search was conducted to replace interim superintendent Superintendent Thomas Gialanella, (who replaced Frank Roselli).

Healy comes from a district of just over four thousand students into one with seventeen thousand plus over two thousand staff personnel. While the difference is stark, Healy pointed to his prior experience as Assistant Superintendent in the Middletown School District.

“The only way to get big district experience is to work in a big district. Middletown is a large school district and I think that transfers.”

The appointment was a unanimous decision by the “Clean Slate” team who approved Healy for the position (though several members were not in favor of the contract). Many considered this superintendent to be the first in a “Post Mike Ritacco” era of the district, however Healy says he’s not thinking about his predecessor.

“I think it’s been played out and I want to look ahead. I want to talk about what we’re going to do moving forward and not what happened prior to my arrival.”

While Toms River residents have seen a relatively flat school tax in previous years, the district is also home to numerous schools in need of repair or renovation.

“I can guarantee in a district this size and the things I’ve been able to do in other districts, we’re going to find some other resources we’re going to reinvest in the facilities. Absolutely,” said Healy.

Healy noted during his past tenure’s he was able to secure full day kindergarten without raising taxes, improve testing scores and graduation rates, and create programs to steer incoming high school freshman on the right track academically.

Prior to his time as superintendent in Matawan-Aberdeen and assistant superintendent in Middletown, Healy was a principal for the Monmouth Ocean Education Services Commission, an assistant principal at Matawan Regional High School, and assistant principal for Middletown High School.

He graduated from Monmouth University and earned a masters from Seton Hall University. His first full time teaching job was with the NJ Department of Corrections at the Bordentown Correctional Facility.

Healy’s pay has not yet been released however he is expected to make close to two hundred thousand dollars based on the size of the district.

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