New superintendent says it’s time for Ventnor schools to blossom

Last Updated on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 04:02 pm Written by SHAUN SMITH Monday, March 11, 2013 04:11 pm

Eileen Johnson, center, is welcomed as the superintendent of schools. Pictured from left are elementary school secretary Vicki Cahill, security officer Lisa Petullo, Johnson, school board member Capt. Doug Biagi and residency officer Barbara Goldberg.

VENTNOR – Eileen Johnson's office smells like flowers. That is how the school community welcomed her as the new school district superintendent on her first full week at the job.

"They wanted to wish me well. It's a very good feeling, "Johnson said Friday, March 8.

Johnson, who lives in Galloway, started as superintendent Friday, March 1. She came to the district in 2004 as principal of the Ventnor Elementary School and has served in that position since. The mother of two said that after more than 20 years of experience in education, it is hard to imagine any other career path.

"As a kid I always wanted to be a teacher, but I set my goals in a couple of different directions. Teaching has always seemed to be the right fit for me," Johnson said.

She said her parents, Erv and Elaine Adams, influenced that decision, particularly her father, who was a member of the Philadelphia teachers union.

A 1986 graduate of Temple University, she entered college with prelaw on her mind, but just a year after graduation she was teaching third grade at the Ethel Allen School in southwest Philadelphia.

Her parents kept a summer house in Margate; however, they were displaced from their home by Hurricane Sandy and are now living in Ventnor. During the summers while growing up, Johnson worked as a lifeguard at pools in Atlantic City.

After a year of teaching in Philadelphia, she took a job in the Brigantine School District and taught there for 12 years.

"It was the best experience of my life," Johnson said.

She landed her first administrative position in 2000 when she began a four-year stint as the supervisor of language arts literacy in the Pleasantville School District.

Johnson said she felt ready to become a principal, and it just so happened that a position opened up in Ventnor.

"Ventnor was looking for a principal and I felt it was the perfect fit for me after teaching in Brigantine. I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity," she said. 

The transition from principal to superintendent has been a smooth one, she said.

"I have a lot of support from the administrative team, the board of education and the teachers. They're all very excited for me and are so supportive," Johnson said. "I know the district inside and out. I know the strength of our staff and the resilience of our community."

She said her goal is to take a really great district and implement a five-year plan that will make it admired by educators and parents throughout the county.

"I always believe in trying to do the best for our kids – to provide the students with every advantage while watching the dollar," the superintendent said. "It's a balance watching the bottom dollar while giving kids everything they're entitled to, but we do a good job of that."

That plan isn't without its challenges, Johnson acknowledged. In the weeks after the October hurricane, she was assisting with the operation of a distribution center in the school cafeteria and organized a community yard sale for items donated by the staff and free for residents to take.

"With so much going on, we come in every day for the kids to make it as normal as possible," Johnson said.

Ventnor staff and outside school districts sent supplies, gift cards and toys.

"It was a huge group effort. Everybody wanted to help," Johnson said.

Johnson said she enjoys spending time with her family – her husband, Chuck, and their two daughters Bonnie, a law student at Drexel University, and Jessica, a junior at Florida Gulf Coast University – and the family dog Paris, a yellow Labrador retriever.

She said she enjoys reading, going to the beach and attending rock concerts.

As Johnson gets settled into her new position, she will be getting help from a mentor, Donna Van Horn, and residency officer Barbara Goldberg, who Johnson called the matriarch of the district with more than 40 years of employment here.

More than anything, Johnson said she is excited to begin the task at hand.

"I want Ventnor to finally take its place as a sought-after district and community as it was years ago," Johnson said – "to put Ventnor back on the map as a school district recognized for its excellence."