Will Smith is the Superintendent of Schools for the Point Pleasant Beach School District in New Jersey, the district in which he began his teaching career in 1994. Will appears regularly at regional and national conferences presenting on varied topics including rigor and equity, Advanced Placement for all students, staff health and wellness, juvenile justice reform, and academic confidence. His core principles of school reform were recently featured on an episode of DisruptEd TV. Will is also an adjunct faculty member at Monmouth University, the former four-year president of the Ocean County Association of School Administrators, and a current member of the Board of Directors for the Monmouth Ocean Educational Services Commission. A self-described “creativity evangelist,” Will was recognized as the Ocean County’s Superintendent of the Year in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Prior to returning to Point Pleasant Beach School District as its superintendent in 2016, Will served as the Principal of Raritan High School and an assistant principal and supervisor at Red Bank Regional High School, both in New Jersey. Will is a married father of three children and an avid runner and cyclist. He has released three albums of original music. His song “Little Padiddle” was featured on NPR’s syndicated program “Car Talk.”
Past AASA New Jersey Superintendent of the Year Winners:
2022 New Jersey Superintendent of the Year: Scott Rocco
2021 New Jersey Superintendent of the Year: Joseph Meloche
2020 New Jersey Superintendent of the Year: Mackey Pendergrast
About the Award:
The Superintendent of the Year program, sponsored by First Student and AASA, pays tribute to the talent and vision of the men and women who lead the nation’s public schools.
State-level winners are selected on the following criteria:
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- Leadership for Learning
- Communication
- Professionalism
- Community Involvement