PETERSBURG — “Coming ‘home’ and returning to the district that helped me become who I am today is the greatest achievement in my professional career,” said Allison Pessolano, who took over as superintendent of the Upper Township School District in July.
Pessolano said she thinks it’s important to have stability for students to grow.
“It’s really hard to put quality programs in place without consistent leadership,” she said.
District officials are pleased to have been able to fill the position with a high-quality candidate.
“We are excited, as a Board of Education, that she is here and is ready to lead us and continue the great work that happens here in the Upper Township School District,” Board of Education President Michelle Barbieri said.
Pessolano attended Upper Township schools through eighth grade before going to boarding school in 1990 in Pennsylvania. Her parents remained through her college years before moving to Somers Point in Atlantic County.
After high school, she earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental science with a concentration in biology in May 1998 from Colorado College then attended Rowan University, where she earned a certificate of graduate studies in math in 2007, a master’s degree in teacher leadership and supervisor’s certificate in 2010 and principal’s certificate in 2012.
She worked as a middle school math teacher from 2003-12 and instructional facilitator for STEM from 2012-15 at the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District.
Pessolano served as principal of the Woodstown Middle School from 2015-21 and curriculum coordinator from 2021-23. She also served as an acting superintendent while still performing duties of curriculum coordinator from July to October 2022.
“My fond memories of my years as a student … and as a member of this amazing community are what drove me to come back and pursue the position of superintendent,” she wrote in a letter to the district. “Words cannot express how grateful I am to have the opportunity to serve the district that was such a foundational part of my life.”
Through the summer, she has been working with staff mostly but has had the opportunity to meet some of the students through the extended school year program, summer enrichment and tutoring.
“Mostly I’ve been working with our administrative team just trying to figure what our needs are so we can start setting goals and making plans moving forward,” Pessolano said.
She said she plans to work together with all stakeholders.
“I believe that leadership is collaborative and a leader’s success can only be achieved in partnership with others. Building relationships is the foundation of my leadership style. I value dialogue and open discussion,” Pessolano said.
Joking that she didn’t even like her own children when they were teenagers, Pessolano said she really enjoys teaching the younger students.
“High school is not where my heart is and not where I want to be,” she said, noting she was certified to teach up to high school but always taught middle school students.
“That was the right spot for me,” she said.
Pessolano said it’s easier to create positive growth when students are grounded in the basics first.
“These grades, especially the elementary grades, that’s where we lay the foundation for everything else these kids are going to do, and if they are not leaving here with a solid foundation, they’re not going to be successful in high school,” she said.
“I’m excited to focus my efforts there and work collaboratively with our team to make sure that we are giving these kids the best foundation that we can,” Pessolano said.
Pessolano said she was awaiting word from the state about the district’s application for preschool expansion aid with the hopes of funding free preschool for currently enrolled students in the fall.
“It certainly would bring much-needed funding to the district,” Pessolano said, adding the district now has three inclusion and one special-needs classroom.
The district was not previously eligible for the aid because it was based on free and reduced price lunch numbers, but Pessolano said the state changed some of those restrictions “because really the state wants free preschool for everyone.”
If successful, the district would plan to offer more tuition-free seats in and out of the district in the future to help create that solid foundation.
“My goal every day will be to ensure that our students receive everything they need in order to be successful while they are with us in the UTSD,” Pessolano stated in the letter to district families. “My promise includes ensuring that your children are prepared for wherever they go beyond Upper Township.”
She said she wants children to feel safe, loved, valued and to know that they will succeed.
“When they leave our educational program, I want to be sure they are leaving equipped with the tools they need to achieve their goals at all stages in their lives,” she wrote.
The district’s superintendent search committee unanimously chose the township native and the Board of Education voted to approve her contract March 20. District leadership was in flux after a long time of stability. Interim Superintendent Chris Kobik took over from Vincent Palmieri, who was with the district for 20 years before submitting a letter of resignation dated Nov. 21, 2022. The board approved the separation agreement that evening. Palmieri will remain employed by the district until Dec. 31, 2024, at a salary of $176,083 for 2023 and $135,000 for 2024.
Pessolano took over July 1. Her contract, which continues through June 30, 2026, pays her $150,000 in the first year, $153,000 in the second year and $156,000 in the final year. She also gets 20 vacation days and 12 sick days per year and can accumulate as much as $15,000 in sick pay. There does not appear to be a cap on accumulated vacation days.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff