Moorestown BOE Welcomes New Superintendent

The Moorestown Board of Education officially welcomed soon-to-be new Superintendent Brian Betze to the fold Tuesday, while members of the district community offered words of praise for outgoing Superintendent John Bach.

The board formally voted to hire Betze—currently the Berlin Township School District superintendent—Tuesday, .

Board President Don Mishler said Betze’s contract is for five years at $165,000/year—just below the state-imposed cap.

Speaking before the board and the audience, Betze said, “I look forward to working with the staff and teachers and parents in continuing the tradition of excellence here in Moorestown.”

While he doesn’t officially start until the first week of July, Betze said he plans to begin making the rounds in the district and the Moorestown community in general beginning after Memorial Day.

Acclimating himself to his new climate will take time, but step one he said is “just to get out there and meet people, make yourself known to everyone.”

Betze, who has an extensive education background going back more than 25 years, will come from a district with just two schools (John F. Kennedy Elementary and Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School) and 750 students to Moorestown’s six schools and roughly 4,000 students.

President Don Mishler said the board hired Betze, , for three primary reasons.

“He is an educator first and foremost, who believes that the connection between teacher and student is the most important aspect of the learning environment,” Mishler said, adding that Betze “created an educational success story in his previous district by raising performance levels” and is “a leader who is willing to challenge conventional wisdom and the status quo for the benefit of students.”

Moorestown Education Association President Lisa Trapani took the opportunity to praise Bach as well, who will end his five-year tenure with the district on June 30.

She described him as not just a “lifelong educator, but more importantly a lifelong learner.”

“He is the consummate professional, a leader at all levels, and a true collaborator,” she said. “I would like to credit him with the creation of the successful partnership under which the district has thrived … His impact will be long-lasting and his departure will be felt at every level.”

Trapani’s words were followed by a standing ovation for Bach from the board and the audience members.

Mishler said the hiring of Betze comes with a “sense of anticipation.”

“It’s sort of a new era. I don’t want to get carried away,” Mishler said. “I’m looking forward to it.”