Livingston School Board Approves Appointment of Interim Superintendent After First Meet and Greet

LIVINGSTON, NJ — The appointment of Dr. Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D. as interim superintendent of Livingston Public Schools (LPS) for the 2024-2025 school year was unanimously approved during Tuesday’s Livingston Board of Education, during which the board and outgoing superintendent Dr. Matthew Block officially welcomed Fishbein to the district after hosting a public meet and greet for the community earlier in the evening.

Fishbein, a retired superintendent who most recently served in the position at Ridgewood Public Schools, will take over the reins as interim superintendent at LPS on July 1 and is expected to remain in the position for the full academic year in order to allow sufficient time for the district to seek stakeholder input and conduct a thorough search for a permanent Superintendent of Schools.

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“I want to welcome and congratulate Dr. Fishbein on his appointment tonight as the interim superintendent of schools,” said Block. “I look very much forward to working with him to create a seamless transition and know that he will soon realize what a wonderful district this is with a team of educators and a collection of students that are second to none.”

Block, who recently announced his plans to retire from public education in New Jersey, assured the community that he plans to participate fully in the transition of leadership but expressed confidence in the selection of Fishbein to replace him in the coming months.

"Dr. Fishbein's reputation as an educational leader is second to none,” said Block. “I am confident he will quickly discover what an amazing professional team we have here in Livingston, and together with the LPS team, will take the district to the next level. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Fishbein during the upcoming transition period."

Block’s resignation, for purposes of retirement, was approved at the LBOE meeting on April 16. Upon his departure on July 1, Block will assume a new role as Superintendent of Schools in Ardsley, NY.

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CLICK HERE to read more about the LBOE’s reaction to this announcement and discussion of next steps. More information about Dr. Fishbein can be read below.

More about Dr. Daniel Fishbein:

According to LPS, the district will benefit from Dr. Fishbein’s leadership in high-performing districts, along with the knowledge, experience and insights he brings to the position.

Dr. Fishbein holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geology from the University of Maine, Orono; a Master of Education - Secondary Science Education from St. Michael’s College; and a Master of Education - Educational Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. He earned his Doctor of Education - Educational Administration degree from Columbia University in 1992.

In 2020, Dr. Fishbein retired as Superintendent of Ridgewood Public Schools, a position he held for more than a decade. There, he served as the chief school administrator for 5,800 K -12 students and 800 professional and non-professional staff members.

As superintendent, he was responsible for the leadership and management of the educational program, financial and technology operations, and all parts of the physical plant, as well as for leading, inspiring, guiding, and directing each administrative, instructional, and support services staff member. In addition, he oversaw a $115-milion budget.

Highlights of his tenure in Ridgewood include a successful $48-million bond referendum on the facilities that was approved in December 2009 and completed in 2012.

Prior to joining Ridgewood Public Schools, Dr. Fishbein served as Superintendent of Schools in Glen Ridge for seven years.

Since his retirement, he has served in various interim positions in Glen Rock, Hillsborough Township and Pascack Valley.

Dr. Fishbein has served as an adjunct professor at Ramapo College in Mahwah since 2018. Over the years, he has served in various leadership roles with Bergen County Superintendents’ Association, Essex County Superintendents’ Association, Northern NJ Superintendents’ Study Council, and the Garden State Coalition of Schools.

He has also served as a trainer and mentor for new superintendents and administrators who aspire to be superintendents. He is a founding member of the National Superintendents Roundtable and the New Jersey Superintendent Study Council. He has traveled to Japan, China and South Korea as an education ambassador and guest of their governmental education agencies.

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