Morris County Vocational School District Announces Appointment of Dr. Anita D.  Champagne as New Superintendent 

The Morris County Vocational School District Board of Education approved Dr. Anita D. Champagne as the next Superintendent of Schools. Board President Barbara Dawson, on behalf of the board, expressed great enthusiasm for the appointment. 

President Dawson stated, “After a rigorous and thorough search, which included extensive  surveys and meetings with our school district stakeholders to gather community input regarding  our vision for the district’s future, and rounds of interviews with highly qualified applicants, our  Board is thrilled to appoint Dr. Champagne to this pivotal leadership role. She is a dynamic and experienced educator with over 25 years of dedicated service in diverse learning environments.” 

Dr. Champagne is a recognized leader in the educational community with a strong commitment to fostering leadership and academic success. As a former mentor in the New Jersey Leaders to  Leaders program, she has a proven track record of guiding and coaching aspiring school leaders.  Throughout her career, she has successfully managed the writing and implementation of  multimillion-dollar grants, including the Department of Labor's Pre-Apprentice (PACE) Grant, the  Women and Minorities in Construction grant, the U.S. Department of Education's Mental Health  Service Professional Demonstration Grant, and the 21st Century Grant. Dr. Champagne’s  educational journey began as a teacher in a vocational technical school, where she developed a  passion for preparing students for post-secondary careers. She has played a key role in  developing STEM pathways and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in her previous  districts, with a focus on equipping students to excel in the global job market. 

President Dawson added, “Dr. Champagne is a highly respected educational leader who has  conducted numerous workshops that demonstrate her success in the field of education. Topics  included data-driven decision-making, culturally responsive teaching, and high-impact learning  recovery strategies. Her recent workshop in Washington D.C., which focused on learning loss  due to the pandemic, highlighted her innovative approach to meeting the needs of all students.” 

Furthermore, she emphasized, "During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Champagne’s dedication to  transparency and communication was clearly demonstrated through her series of live instructional  talks, which kept stakeholders informed and provided much-needed educational guidance during  a time of uncertainty. She consistently showcased her ability to collaborate effectively with board  members, city officials, community stakeholders, and staff to address the evolving educational  challenges."

Dr. Champagne earned her doctoral degree in K-12 Educational Leadership from Saint Peter's  University, with a dissertation titled "Grading Systems in Elementary Grades 3-5: Administrator  and Teacher Perceptions." In her research, she explored the inequities in grading practices and  their impact on student success. 

President Dawson remarked, “Dr. Champagne is eager to advancing our district by working  collaboratively with students, faculty, administration, and the Morris County community. She  brings a wealth of experience in STEM and CTE program development, which she will leverage  to drive progress and innovation.” 

Dr. Champagne shared her enthusiasm for the new opportunity, saying, "I am truly honored to be  named the next Superintendent of Schools for the Morris County Vocational School District. I am  deeply grateful to the Board of Education for placing their trust in me to lead this district. This role  is both a privilege and a responsibility I embrace wholeheartedly. The district is rich in knowledge  and potential, and I look forward to collaborating with everyone to unlock these resources and  shape a bright future for our community." 

Dr. Champagne will officially commence her tenure on June 1, 2025. “Until then,” President  Dawson stated, “we are grateful to Acting Superintendent, Shari Castelli, for her continued  service, and she will work closely with Dr. Champagne to ensure a seamless transition.” 

“We extend our sincere appreciation to our school’s educational community for its unwavering  support and engagement throughout this leadership transition. The valuable feedback we  received was instrumental in shaping the superintendent profile and guiding our selection  process,” President Dawson concluded.