Board of Education appoints Dr. joseph Cirillo as superintendent
After an extensive and thoughtful search process, the Demarest Board of Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Joseph Cirillo as the new Superintendent of Demarest Public Schools.
Dr. Cirillo brings more than 23 years of experience in education, including 12 years as Superintendent of the Palisades Park School District. He has also served for over 15 years as an Adjunct Professor at Saint Peter's University. His areas of expertise span educational leadership, curriculum development, communication, finance, personnel management and training, and educational technology. In addition, he currently serves as President of the Bergen County Association of School Administrators (BCASA), where he advocates for and supports district-level leaders throughout the county.
A respected keynote speaker at local, state, and national conferences, Dr. Cirillo offers a broad and balanced perspective on on public and private education systems. He is widely recognized for his insight into policy development, strategic hiring, and business operations.
Throughout his career, Dr. Cirillo has embraced and promoted a growth mindset, fostering a leadership style that empowers others to become effective problem-solvers, critical thinkers, skilled communicators, and engaged global citizens. Under his leadership, his former district earned recognition as a model of innovative educational practices, sustainable reform, transformed learning environments, and improved student outcomes.
Reflecting on his new role, Dr. Cirillo shared:
"It is a privilege to join the Demarest community - a district known for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and nurturing the whole child. I look forward to building strong relationships with students, staff, families and community members as we work together to ensure every child thrives academically, socially, and emotionally. Together, we will honor Demarest's proud traditions while inspiring new opportunities for growth and success."
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Cirillo enjoys spending time with his wife, Gina, a teacher, and their two sons, Alex and Matthew, both teenage student-athletes.
Superintendent Search
- Update May 5The Demarest Board of Education is pleased to report that we are nearing the completion of our Superintendent Search process.Relying on the insights gained from our Superintendent Search Survey, and with our full community's needs in mind, the Board advanced through three rounds of interviews, beginning with ten highly qualified candidates and finally advancing three impressive educational leaders for closest consideration.
Following a successful and very robust reference check, the Board anticipates a final appointment of our next Superintendent of Schools at the May 6 public meeting of the Demarest BOE, which is posted on our website. Please continue to visit this page for our final updates.We continue to express our gratitude for your support throughout this endeavor. We are excited to soon introduce our new Superintendent to our community! - Click HERE to view the agenda for the May 6 public meeting.
Update: March 19
As of the close of the application window on March 18, fifty-six qualified candidates have applied for the position of Superintendent: fifteen experienced Superintendents, eight Assistant Superintendents, nine Directors, twenty-two Principals, and two candidates who hold other positions in public education. Fifteen candidates have earned doctorates.
To see the full candidate pool report, please visit: https://www.
khelewaconsulting.com/ demarest-superintendent- candidate-pool-report The Demarest Board of Education will convene in executive session during its meeting on the evening of March 20 to examine the candidates' qualifications and to determine who will be selected for first-round interviews, using the insights gained from the online input survey.
Please continue to check this page for updates as the Demarest BOE moves through the search process. We appreciate your support during this crucial endeavor.
Update: March 14
The online Demarest Superintendent Search input survey closed on March 10, having garnered just under 140 participants. All outcomes will be compiled into an internal document which will guide our consultant, Ms. Helewa, and the Demarest Board of Education throughout the search process. Please continue to check this page for updates. We are grateful for the perspectives shared by our survey participants, and we appreciate your support!
Download the Posting as a PDF
Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and proof of certification
to KathleenHelewa.edu@gmail.com on or before 11:59pm EDST, March 18.
Please note Demarest Superintendent in the subject line.
