The Glen Rock Board of Education met with twelve candidates during the first round of Superintendent interviews, held over two nights this past week.

Each interview was engaging and informative, and the Board appreciates the time, commitment, and professionalism demonstrated by all of the candidates we met. Following these interviews, the Board has selected six highly qualified candidates to advance to the second round of interviews, which will take place Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings next week in Executive Session.

The thoughtful input we have received from our stakeholders continues to play an important role in the Board’s decision-making process. We look forward to keeping you informed as we move forward in our search for an exceptional educational leader to serve our community, and, most importantly, our students. Thank you for your continuing support!

In recognition of the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, our Middle School/High School Media Center is featuring a special poster exhibition, “September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World.”

Developed by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom, the exhibition offers students an opportunity to learn and reflect through a gallery walk experience.

Teachers are invited to bring their classes to the Media Center to explore the exhibition and engage with this important piece of our nation’s history.

A special thank you to Mrs. Jessica Boyle, School Library Media Specialist, and Middle School Social Studies Teachers Ms. Megan McDermott and Ms. Gianna Torielli, for thoughtfully planning and setting up this meaningful display.

Shana Tova! Wishing all who celebrate in the Glen Rock Public Schools community a happy, healthy, and sweet Rosh Hashanah. May the Jewish New Year bring peace, joy, renewal, and many blessings to you and your loved ones.🍎🍯❤️

On the 25th anniversary of September 11, we honor the lives lost and the heroes who emerged in the face of tragedy. We remember the enduring spirit of unity and compassion that followed. We honor, we remember, we never forget. 🇺🇸

A huge thank you to our incredible summer crew and the Byrd HSA for making Richard E. Byrd Elementary even more beautiful! From a freshly painted gym and foyer to new classroom signs, an outdoor sensory walk, and a beautiful mural near the 4th and 5th grade classrooms, so much love and hard work went into making Byrd feel extra special for the start of a new school year. And to top it all off, brand-new landscaping is ready to welcome everyone back!

Happy first day, GRPS! The halls are buzzing, the smiles are back, and a brand-new school year is officially underway! Welcome back, students and staff—looking forward to a great year of learning, growing, and making memories together. Let’s make it our best one yet! 🪨❤️🐾🐧🦅

Here’s to the people who show up, work hard, and make a difference every day. This Labor Day, we’re celebrating the dedication and heart that make our Glen Rock community so special. Enjoy the long weekend, Glen Rock! 🇺🇸☀️👏❤️🪨 #rockgrnj #laborday

After three jam-packed professional learning days, GRPS elementary teachers are officially ready to welcome students next week! This week’s sessions covered Sonday reading instruction for new teachers, cursive handwriting for grades 3–5, best practices in elementary science, and SEL in specialist classrooms. Additionally, our summer curriculum committees met to share all the hard work and updates completed over the break. ✍️🔬❤️🪨🧑‍🏫 #rockgrnj #professionallearning #grpselementaryschools

And just like that… we’re BACK! 🎉

Glen Rock Public Schools kicked off the 2026–2027 school year on Sept. 1 with a special Staff Convocation.

From welcoming new colleagues and celebrating tenured staff to recognizing team members marking 25 years of service, the afternoon was all about the incredible people who make GRPS so amazing. The program, filled with connection, celebration, and recognition included:

👏 A warm welcome from Interim Superintendent, Mr. Kenneth Rota
🎤 A message from Board of Education Trustee, Mr. Ed Hayward
🙌 A celebration of our amazing staff
⭐ And an inspiring presentation from motivational speaker, teacher, and coach, Mr. Jim Stroker

What better way to start a new school year than together? We’re ready, we’re energized, and we can’t wait to welcome our students back!

Byrd Elementary School had so much fun welcoming their newest Byrdies at the school’s first annual scavenger hunt and ice cream social! The new students explored the building, met some friendly faces, and learned the way around! A huge thank you to the amazing Byrd HSA and fifth graders for making the event so special. Welcome to Byrd! 💛🐧🏫🖤 #rockgrnj #welcometobyrd

When people hear about New Jersey's new law, they often think it's only about cell phones. In fact, the law addresses personal internet-enabled devices, including: 📱 Cell phones ⌚ Smartwatches 💻 Personal tablets 🌐 Other internet-accessible personal devices Districts across New Jersey are required to establish policies for the use of these devices during the school day. Our goal is simple: create learning environments where students can stay focused, engaged, and connected with the people around them. Stay tuned for more information before the start of school about the new bell-to-bell ban. #rockgrnj #newcellphonepolicy

The Counseling team has been busy this summer preparing for the upcoming school year. The elementary RULER teams have been updating and are developing new curriculum for the K–5 RULER program. Ms. Higgins also held multiple sessions with 6th-grade parents to answer questions and provide support related to the transition to Glen Rock Middle School. For our seniors, Camp College and essay workshops have begun. These sessions provide students with an opportunity to complete a significant portion of their college applications, receive essay review and revision support, and update their Naviance accounts and finish their brag sheets. Can’t wait to welcome everyone back in September! ❤️🐾🪨🧑‍🏫 #rockgrnj #glenrockcounseling #ruler #campcollege

📢!! As we get ready for another exciting school year, New Jersey is introducing new requirements for student use of cell phones and personal internet-enabled devices during the school day. Why? Because classrooms are at their best when students are engaged, participating, collaborating, and connecting with one another. Research continues to show that reducing distractions during the school day helps students focus, learn, and build stronger relationships with their classmates. Sometimes putting our phones away helps us reconnect with what’s right in front of us. 📚 More learning. 💬 More connection. 🎉 More moments that matter. We’ll share additional information about the new state requirements and building-specific procedures before school begins. ❤️🐾🪨 #rockgrnj #newcellphonepolicy

With guidance from our Search Consultant, the Glen Rock Board of Education has carefully reviewed the application materials submitted by all of the candidates for Superintendent. The Board is grateful for all of the impressive talent that comprised the application pool, and we thank each of these accomplished educational leaders for their interest in leading our District.

Using the outcomes from the input survey and input sessions conducted with our stakeholders, the Board has selected twelve candidates for first-round interviews. Those interviews will be conducted in closed sessions during the publicly advertised GRBOE meetings on Wednesday, September 9 and Thursday, September 10. Second and third interviews with the candidates who advance through each round will be held later in the month.

We appreciate the Glen Rock educational community's support during the search process, and we look forward to posting future updates on our progress as they occur.

#rockgrnj #grboe #superintendentsearch

The next Glen Rock Board of Education Regular Meeting is on Monday, July 27, 2026 at 6 p.m. Meeting Agenda and YouTube Live Stream can be found at https://www.glenrocknj.org/o/grpsd/page/agendas-minutes-meeting-notices. #rockgrnj #glenrockboe #grboe #grboemeeting

As of the close of the application window on July 19, 31 candidates have applied for the position of Superintendent: 10 Superintendents, 6 Assistant Superintendents, 10 candidates in other district-level director positions, and 5 school principals. Seventeen candidates have earned doctorates. To see the full candidate pool report, visit https://www.khelewaconsulting.com/glen-rock-superintendent-search-candidate-pool-report The GRBOE will convene in executive session during its meeting on Monday, July 27 to examine each of the candidates' qualifications and determine who will be selected for first-round interviews, using the insights gained from the online survey and the in-person school stakeholder input sessions conducted in May. #rockgrnj #grboe #superintendentsearch

Congratulations to the Richard E. Byrd Elementary School fifth graders as they celebrated an exciting milestone by officially moving up to middle school! From their first days learning their ABCs to becoming confident leaders in the halls of Byrd, these students have grown in so many incredible ways. We can’t wait to see all you will accomplish in middle school and beyond. Congratulations, Byrdies! The future is bright, and it’s just getting started.

Happy Fourth of July! ❤️🤍💙 As we celebrate our nation’s independence, we’re also marking America’s 250th anniversary celebration! Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and memorable Independence Day! 🇺🇸✨ #July4th #IndependenceDay #America250 #USA250 #rockgrnj

From manicures with Ms. Hughes to teachers for the day, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School students enjoyed their HSA Auction prizes! Media, music, and physical education were a lot of fun with these special student teachers!