Dr. Edward Aldarelli appointed Edison schools superintendent

By Alvin Wu
Domestic Affairs
Dr. Edward Aldarelli appointed Edison schools superintendent

Dr. Edward Aldarelli thanks the Edison Board of Education for appointing him superintendent at a special meeting on July 27, 2023, at the Education Center. EDISON BOARD OF EDUCATION/Livestream

EDISON, N.J., July 29 (ZFJ) — Dr. Edward Aldarelli was appointed superintendent of Edison Township Public Schools on Thursday, July 27.

The Edison Board of Education voted unanimously for him after four hours of candidate interviewing at a special meeting.

“Definitely, no doubt, absolutely yes,” said Board President Shannon Peng, topping off board member Mohin Patel’s “absolutely yes” and Jerry Shi’s “absolutely, absolutely yes.”

Aldarelli was “overwhelmed” that the board chose him to lead the district, which has over 16,000 students.

“I promise that I will do my best to deliver the highest level of education that this community deserves and I look forward to partnering with all of our teachers, our community members, and everybody here in a shared vision for that,” he said. “We can only do great things together.”

Aldarelli holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Saint Peter’s University. He also has a master’s degree in educational leadership and bachelor’s in history and education from Monmouth University.

He has over 25 years of experience in public education, having started as an elementary and middle school teacher. He began his administrative career as vice principal of Howell Township’s Adelphia Elementary School. He then spent over 13 years as principal of West Freehold School in Freehold Township.

He joined Edison in October 2020 as director of human resources and supported the district’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was appointed acting superintendent from December 2022.

Several residents expressed their congratulations and confidence in Aldarelli during public comment.

“The association’s looking forward to working with Dr. Aldarelli as we have already been for the last couple of years,” said Jeff Bowden, president of the Edison Township Education Association, the educators’ union.

Board members also gave their congratulations, expressed that it was a tough decision, and thanked the search firm.

The board began searching for a new superintendent in April 2023 with the help of the search firm.

After a round of interviews, the candidate pool was reduced to seven people, then to three, said Shi.

“After four months, we finally got the right guy,” said Board Vice-President Joseph Romano.

Aldarelli succeeds Dr. Bernard F. Bragen, who resigned to become superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools in Virginia in September 2022 after his negotiations to extend his Edison contract to the maximum limit failed.

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