Palmyra appoints Norton to wear superintendent ‘hat’

Come July 1, Palmyra will have a familiar face leading its school district.

The board of education voted unanimously to confirm Florencia Norton – currently the district’s director of curriculum and instruction and preschool principal – at a meeting on April 9. Board member Cara Broadbelt abstained.

The vote was met with applause and a construction hard hat of all things.

“I get to recognize someone who I believe is an outstanding educator and a true leader,” said interim Superintendent Mark Pease, who has led the district for the past two years and previously served a principal at Charles Street School.

“I’m excited for this individual to take on responsibilities of leading this school district,” he added. “I know she’ll do a phenomenal job. I know she has support of this board, the administration team and teachers of this district.”

Pease, who will serve the district until the end of June, presented Norton with a nameplate, and instead of passing a torch, offered a white construction hard hat as a reference to “all the (referendum) construction going on.”

“We are proud of all the hard work that’s going to take place,” he noted, “and I expect an invite on any ribbon cuttings after I leave here.”

With a hug and a nod, Norton accepted Pease’s request.

Voters approved an $18.4-million bond referendum in March 2024 to fund much needed interior and exterior improvements at Palmyra’s aging school buildings.

Improvements at the K-5 Charles Street School include a new American Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant surfaced playground; roof replacement; exterior door replacement; a new main entrance security vestibule and office renovation; and a number of interior renovations, including bathroom, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and electrical systems.

Improvements at Palmyra’s middle and high school involve a new auxiliary gym; renovations and conversions of existing spaces – main office, guidance and library suites – for additional classroom space; work to bathrooms, the science lab and the auditorium; and a new middle/high school entrance and main office-area reconfiguration.

Ahead of the board’s vote for Norton, school board president Sean Toner said the district has “been truly lucky to have Mr. Pease as interim superintendent for the last two years.

“We really appreciate the effort you put forth, especially in terms of the referendum,” Toner told Pease, “but also the day to day. You have been honest and straightforward in the effort we get from you. I want to personally say this is a big job and there were a lot of people interested in this job.

“That speaks volumes to what the administration, the teachers and the board have been doing here.”

Toner noted that 31 candidates responded to a search conducted by the board and the New Jersey School Board Association (NJSBA) and were diligently interviewed through multiple rounds of meetings.

“There were some amazing, amazing candidates,” he explained. “Through that whole process … I’m really grateful for the level of professionalism and dignity this board gave that process. It was outstanding and I’m personally grateful for all of you for the effort you put forth. It was very good natured, very honest – and truly notable.

“The community should also make note of that.”

Norton believes her district familiarity will greatly aid success in her first 100 days and beyond. She also serves as:

• District McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison
• District Equity/Affirmative Action Officer
• Director District Data, Assessment & Accountability
• Director Multilingual Learning (MLL)
• Director Gifted & Talented (G&T)

Those many roles have allowed Norton to be omnipresent on campus; she knows all of the faculty, staff, students and, of course, the curriculum. This year, Norton also took on the role of preschool principal, and her preschool staff were at the meeting in force to support her appointment and let her know how much they will miss her in their own front office.