Dr. Peter Turnamian was appointed Superintendent of the Cedar Grove Public Schools on Monday, April 8th, 2024. The resolution of Dr. Turnamian’s appointment was unanimously passed by the Cedar Grove Board of Education during a specially scheduled meeting.

“After conducting an exhaustive and rigorous search and selection process, the Board is excited to approve Dr. Turnamian as the next Superintendent of Schools for our Cedar Grove Public Schools effective July 1st, 2024. Throughout the selection process Dr. T demonstrated a deep commitment toward leading our schools forward to greater levels of achievement while also being committed to investing in building strong healthy relationships with all the many stakeholders in our community,” said Cedar Grove BOE President, Dawn Daura.

Dr. Turnamian comes to the role of Superintendent of Schools for Cedar Grove Public Schools with 30 years of experience in education. After graduating from the University of Rochester, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, Dr. Turnamian joined Teach for America and relocated to the southwest. He began his career as a middle school language arts teacher in Phoenix, AZ. Over the course of his career, Dr. Turnamian earned a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Learning from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and his Doctorate in Educational Administration from Seton Hall University.

Early in his career, Dr. Turnamian served as the Founder and Director of Greater Newark Charter School. His work with innovative “Data-Driven Instructional” models at the time was featured in the book, Driven by Data. Greater Newark Charter School was also highlighted in an issue of Educational Leadership for its outstanding student achievement.

In 2010, Dr. Turnamian was selected to serve as the Principal for Watchung Elementary School in Montclair, NJ. During his tenure, Watchung School was awarded a Blue Ribbon by the federal government and named a “reward” school by the New Jersey Department of Education. In his career, Dr. Turnamian served as the Assistant and Deputy Superintendent for Newark Public Schools and worked as an Adjunct Professor at Seton Hall University. He was twice a guest speaker at Harvard University Principals’ Seminar and he has been the recipient of the “Cultivating Quality Education” Award.

Most Recently, Dr. Turnamian served as the Superintendent of Schools for Rockaway Township and Washington Township school districts. In both roles Dr. Turnamian expanded STEM initiatives across all grade levels, launched improved communication systems, and formalized enhanced data management systems to better inform intervention services.

When asked about the opportunity to become the next Superintendent of Schools for Cedar Grove Public Schools he stated, “I know Cedar Grove to be a tight knit community filled with great pride and deeply dedicated to our schools. The opportunity to serve as the next Superintendent for Cedar Grove Public Schools is the greatest honor of my career. I am equally humbled and inspired to join a school community steeped with rich traditions of student success where students’ well being and positive development will be the central focus of all we do.””

Dr. Turnamian was born and raised in New Jersey and resides in Cranford with his wife Erin and their three children, Abigail (13), Riley (16), and Ryan (18).