Weehawken Public Schools hires Eric Crespo as new superintendent

The Weehawken Public Schools hired Eric Crespo as their new superintendent of schools at Wednesday’s special board of education meeting, the district announced today.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

The school board approved a three-year contract with Crespo, 39, who has been an assistant superintendent of academic services and special programs at the Paterson Public Schools for the last three years.

After earning his Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Seton Hall University, Crespo got his start in education as a high school teacher of social studies and Advanced Placement (AP) psychology, and taught in two other New Jersey school districts.

Crespo, who was born in the Bronx and raised in North Bergen, said in a statement “it will be nice to be back in Hudson County.

“One of my main goals as I transitioned to administration was to make sure I never forgot I was a teacher,” he added, not that as an assistant superintendent in Paterson, he worked closely with the teachers’ union there to create academic services and special programs.

“I always have my teaching hat on, and remember what a teacher goes through and I am in the classrooms a lot.”

Additionally, Crespo earned a Masters of Arts in education administration and supervision from St. Peter’s University, with his doctoral dissertation on the effectiveness of professional development in schools.

He expects to receive his doctoral degree in K-12 education leadership from St. Peter’s in the spring of 2020. Currently, Crespo lives in Paramus with his wife, a physical education teacher in a local school district, and their four daughters, ages four to 12.

“I’m not planning on using this district as a stepping stone,” he also said. “I want to lead this district for a very long time.”

Furthermore, Weehawken School Board President Richard Barsa applauded the district’s new hire.

“We are thrilled to get someone of Mr. Crespo’s caliber to lead our district,” Weehawken
Township School Board President Richard Barsa stated.

“He has proven from the innovations that he brought to Paterson that he can build on the successes of our district.”

As an assistant superintendent in Paterson, Crespo earned an annual salary of $130,246, according to public records. His new salary in Weehawken was not immediately available.