PARSIPPANY — Barbara Sargent has been appointed as the new superintendent of the grades 9-12 West Morris Regional High School District Board of Education, effective August 1. Sargent is currently serving as the superintendent of the grades K-12 Parsippany-Troy Hills School District, a position she has held since 2017. The West Morris Regional student population was 2,289 as of 2020–21.
She will be succeeding Michael Ban-David, leaving after eight years to assume a similar role at Tenafly. Sargent’s five-year contract will begin with a yearly salary of $260,000.
In a press release by the West Morris district, the board expressed its appreciation for attracting an accomplished educator like Barbara Sargent. The board attributed this success to the district’s outstanding reputation, especially concerning its teachers, and the long-standing commitment of the communities to quality education.
As the superintendent of the largest regional district in Morris County, Parsippany-Troy Hills School District, Sargent oversaw numerous improvements during her tenure, including introducing an elementary strings instruction program and adding more Advanced Placement classes, and an increase in opportunities for teacher leadership.
Barbara Sargent began her career as a superintendent in Readington Township, Hunterdon County, in 2011. While there, she spearheaded strategic planning initiatives for three elementary schools to implement full-day kindergarten, Mandarin language instruction, online coursework for students, and Green Ribbon recognition in environmental and sustainable practices.
Before becoming a superintendent, Sargent served as an assistant superintendent in the Madison school district and a principal of Village School and Orchard Hills School in Montgomery Township for six years. She received the New Jersey Principal of the Year award from the State Department of Education in 2003.
Sargent earned her bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in 1986 and pursued a master’s in Reading/Language Arts from Rider University in 1992. In 1997, she completed her doctoral degree in Educational Administration from Seton Hall University.
In addition to her administrative roles, Sargent has taught courses in school leadership, curriculum, and research as an adjunct professor for Seton Hall University, Drew University, and Ramapo College.
The West Morris Regional High School District is a public school district that provides high school education to students from several Morris County communities, including Chester Borough, Chester Township, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, and Washington Township.
