June 26, 2019
Dear Teaneck Community,

With the 2018-2019 school year officially over, I am reflective on this first year as your Superintendent of Schools, and all that we have accomplished together. I know that you and the Teaneck Board of Education have very high aspirations for our school system and that you put your faith in me to deliver on these
objectives. There is an old adage that “slow and steady wins the race” – but that is simply not my style. I fully appreciate the need to plan carefully; but I am also someone who goes after the difficult, but worthy challenge – especially when the outcome benefits children.

Over this past year, our school district achieved some outstanding accomplishments:
1.) Received two pre-school grants (nearly $4 million combined) which enabled us to offer full-day preschool for our general education population and expand the number of “seats” available – from 84 to 195.
2.) Settled contracts for two bargaining units (teachers and administrators) which are now in place for the next two years.
3.) Announced two significant partnership programs with local colleges/universities – one with Bloomfield College for merit scholarships and the other, a summer dual enrollment program for college credits from Fairleigh Dickinson University – at $250 per course!
4.) Improved our overall communications and promotion of positive news via a steady flow of emails, phone calls, website updates, and regular posts on our newly launched district Facebook page (which has over 475 followers).
5.) Established six Superintendent advisory committees that reported back to me on critical work which needs to take place in our district – including a revamp of our Student Code of Conduct and the need to better address diversity and inclusion throughout our schools.
6.) Collaborated and created a five year District Strategic Plan that will now be the blueprint to guide our district forward.
7.) Achieved a 95.8% preliminary graduation rate for the Class of 2019 – an amazing group of talented students who will clearly go out and make Teaneck very proud!

These are a few of the high points – and we have certainly accomplished much more – but as I like to say, the best is yet to come! I am honored to be this district’s Superintendent and I am extremely grateful for your ongoing support. This is not a

one-person job – we must all be involved in the most important work we will ever do – the education of our children!
Best wishes for a wonderful summer!

Dr. Christopher Irving Superintendent of Schools June 26, 2019 Memo(pdf)
June 26, 2019 Memo(pdf) (.rtf) June 13, 2019 Memo (pdf)
June 13, 2019 Memo (pdf) (.rtf)