Dr. Joseph P. Vespignani
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Joseph Vespignani is honored to join the Ridgefield Park Public Schools as the new Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Vespignani began his career in public education teaching elementary school Spanish. He then served in various administrative roles including Middle School Vice Principal, Elementary School Principal, and Executive Director of Personnel. In addition, he has served as a certified mentor in the New Jersey Leader to Leader program and as an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership Department at Fairleigh Dickinson University instructing the Curriculum-Program Evaluation and Student Assessment course.
In his time as an Elementary School Principal in a K-6 school with a 56% Hispanic population, the instructional team elevated school-wide proficiency results on the ELA state assessment from 52% to 90% within three years. The school sustained these proficiency results for three consecutive years attaining as high as 94%. In Mathematics, school-wide proficiency results were elevated from 20% to 70%. Dr. Vespignani is very proud to have closed the achievement gap for his students.
Dr. Vespignani also enjoyed time serving as the Head Boys Varsity Soccer Coach at Clifton High School. In nine years at the helm, he amassed a 170-38-8 record. In 2007, the team won the NJSIAA Group IV Championship and also won three consecutive NJSIAA North 1, Group IV Sectional Championships in 2007, 2008, and 2009. The team won the Passaic County Championship six times in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2010.
A graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Dr. Vespignani completed a B.A. in Spanish and Master of Arts in Teaching in the QUEST Program. He then attained his principal certification through NJEXCEL. He went on to earn a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Rowan University. Dr. Vespignani holds five certificates from the New Jersey Department of Education including Teacher of Spanish, Elementary School Teacher, Supervisor, Principal, and School Administrator. He has published articles in Educational Viewpoints and in the NJEA Review.
Dr. Vespignani lives in nearby Passaic County with his wife and two children. They enjoy trying new recipes together, playing soccer, and spending time at the beach. They are greatly looking forward to immersing themselves within the Village Community.