Educator reflects on 33 years in school district
BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

METUCHEN - One of the things Ruth Ziznewksi will miss after 33 years in the school district is her "celebrity" teacher status.

"I will be at the grocery store and kids would yell out my name," said Ziznewski. "It will be difficult. I moved here when I started in the district. Metuchen is a place where everybody gets to know each other."

Ziznewski is leaving to take a job as superintendent in the Spring Lake Heights school district. But she plans to keep living in Metuchen for now.

"When I was growing up, I actually wanted to be president of the United States," said Ziznewski. "When that didn't happen, the next best thing was to become a teacher."

Ziznewski landed a job as a first-grade teacher at the Campbell School in 1973, after she received a degree in elementary education from what is now Kean University.

She received a master's degree in reading in 1976 and also became a sixth-grade teacher at Campbell in 1980.

"I love learning and sharing it with the kids," she said.

Ziznewski concentrated on elementary and secondary education.

"From kindergarten to fifth grade, you teach everything except library, art, music and physical education," she said. "I have a deep profound respect for art and music teachers. I found that the hardest to teach. I loved teaching reading and math."

Ziznewski moved to the Moss School to teach first grade in September 1989. That's where she met Fred Cohen, who was principal at the time.

"Ruth and I developed a good professional relationship over the six to eight years we have worked together," he said. "She was an outstanding first-grade teacher with innovative ideas and worked with me on projects on her own time."

When Cohen retired after 30 years, he encouraged Ziznewski to go back to school.

"Fred said I would have more impact on the kids in an administrative position," said Ziznewski.

She received her master's degree in educational administration in 1998.

Ziznewski became principal of Moss School in January 1999. She became the curriculum director in 2001.

"As you move up, you see a bigger picture each time," she said. "When I was a first-grade teacher, it was the 25 kids in my class. Then when I became principal, it was the kids and faculty. And when I became director, it was the entire district."

Ziznewski said it's important to know that even at the top level, no one works alone.

"You continuously work with supervisors, staff and community members," she said. "It's always what's best for the children."

Ziznewski said she has worked with great educators over the years.

"Terri Sinatra [Metuchen school superintendent] encouraged me to take on the position," said Ziznewski. "She has provided me with all the skills needed to be successful."

Sinatra is proud of Ziznewski.

"This is bittersweet for me," she said. "I will miss her tremendously. She will make a wonderful superintendent. It has been an honor to have worked with her."

Ziznewski wants teachers to write down their experiences in the classroom in a notebook.

"I want them to make thoughtful decisions and not just do things automatically," she said. "I hope they take time to stop and think about how to teach their kids and form dialogues among their co-workers about teaching."

Metuchen High School Vice Principal Paul Pineiro replaced Ziznewski as principal of Moss School and district curriculum director for the 2006-07 school year on July 16.

"As director of curriculum, my advice to Paul is just to have his running shoes on," said Ziznewski. "It's a very diverse job."

"As principal, expect little kids to hang off your leg at least once a day and also have a bowl of candy in your office for the staff. I promise to take out the teddy bears and lace," she said.