Dr. Johanna Ruberto, a former award-winning superintendent in Manville, will be stepping in as interim superintendent of Piscataway Township Schools at the start of April. She was appointed by the Piscataway Board of Education at their Thursday, March 13, meeting, according to a news release issued by the district.
Ruberto, the Somerset County Superintendent of the Year in 2014, is replacing Superintendent Dr. Frank Ranelli, who will be retiring from Piscataway at the end of March.
“Our board is happy to name Dr. Ruberto to lead our district through this transitional period,” said Board Vice President Nancy Salgado-Cowan, who is leading the search process. “She is a proven educator and administrator with many years of experience. As a board, we are excited to work with Dr. Ruberto to ensure that all district programs continue without interruption.”
Dr. Timothy Purnell, executive director and CEO of the New Jersey School Boards Association, offered his congratulations to both Ruberto and Piscataway.
“I am thrilled to see Dr. Ruberto step into the role of interim superintendent for Piscataway,” he said. “She has been a guiding force throughout her career, not only as a leader but as a mentor to so many, including myself. When I was a new superintendent, she took me under her wing, offering wisdom, support and an example of what true leadership looks like. Her dedication to students, educators and the community is unmatched, and I have no doubt that Piscataway is in excellent hands under her leadership.”
Ruberto served as full-time superintendent in Manville from 2009 to 2014. Since retiring, she has worked as an interim superintendent in six districts. She has a bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University, a master’s degree from Rider University, and a doctorate from Seton Hall.
“I’m excited,” she said after she was appointed. “Piscataway is a good, strong district. I did a review of the academics, and my husband and I have driven around town. It’s a clean, beautiful town, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Ruberto said she has a formal transition plan to get the district ready for the new permanent superintendent and that she will be very visible in the schools.
Since 2015, Ruberto has worked as an interim superintendent in South Plainfield, Hunterdon Central, Flemington-Raritan, Califon, Clinton, Dunellen, and most recently Madison in the 2023-2024 school year.
“I’ve been in large districts, and I’ve been in very small districts,” she said. “In each one, I quickly assessed the district, maintained the traditions and history of the district and tried to influence the culture for the new superintendent.”
Salgado-Cowan said the board has already begun the process of searching for a permanent superintendent, with the New Jersey School Boards Association assisting in the search. That search is expected to take about six to nine months.
“With Dr. Ruberto’s appointment completed, we can now turn our full attention to the search for a full-time superintendent,” she said, “which is one of the most important responsibilities a board has.”
