Ridge Teacher Moves to Summit for Principal Job

A Ramapo Ridge teacher is moving south to take on her first job in school administration.

Former Ridge science teacher Carly Johnson was approved by the Summit Board of Education as the new assistant principal for curriculum and instruction at Lawton C. Johnson Middle School during a Wednesday night meeting.

Middle School Principal Matthew Block said it was clear from interviewing Johnson that she has the energy, enthusiasm, love for middle school students and love for curriculum and instruction to take the place of Erik Parks, who became the principal of Fieldstone Middle School in Montvale.

Johnson spent the past nine years as a science teacher at Ramapo Ridge Middle School in Mahwah. 

Superintendent Dr. Nathan Parker said members of the Mahwah School District told the hiring committee that, during her tenure, Johnson was very involved in curriculum writing and consistently used creative and innovative techniques to make science hands-on for her students.

“Her supervisor reported that she is a resource for other teachers in her department and throughout the school, coaching them on a wide variety of techniques and providing professional development,” Parker said.

Block relayed similar reports from Mahwah, saying that Johnson was the “go-to person in the school for curriculum writing” and that it was only a matter of time before she became a school administrator.

“I am beyond privileged to be starting my administrative career here in Summit,” Johnson said.

Johnson said she felt at home at the school from the moment she walked through the front door for her screening interview.

Block said more than 160 people applied for the position. He said whittling the pool down to 20, then down to five and then ultimately choosing Johnson was “not an easy process.” Each of the five finalists presented to a committee of 15 to 16 people, discussing their vision for teaching in the 21st century and their vision for moving the middle school forward.

Block said the curriculum and instruction position was initiated two years ago to “focus on curriculum and instruction, support teachers and make sure they had the resources to be the best teachers they could be.”