Hudson County Vocational-Technical School Superintendent Voted President of NJCCVTS

Frank J. Gargiulo, superintendent of the Hudson County Schools of Technology (HCST), was unanimously elected to serve a two-year term as president of New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools.

Serving as Council officers along with Gargiulo are Mike Maddaluna, superintendent of the Somerset County Vocational and Technical Schools (President-Elect); Dr. Philip Guenther, superintendent of the Atlantic County Institute of Technology (Vice President); Dr. Mark Toback, superintendent of Sussex County Technical Schools (Secretary); and Dr. Gary Bennett, superintendent of the Camden County Technical Schools, and Darlene Barber, superintendent of the Cumberland County Technical Education Center (co-Treasurers).

“County vocational-technical schools are New Jersey's original public schools of choice and have earned a reputation as among the state's most innovative secondary programs,” Gargiulo said. “I am proud of the success of our schools and students not only here in Hudson County, but around the entire state.”

"I believe the collective group of superintendents of our 21 county vocational-technical schools are the among the state's most brilliant educational leaders. I am proud to work with them and honored to lead this statewide association," Gargiulo said.

The Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools is the statewide association of superintendents and board of education members of New Jersey’s 21 county vocational-technical school districts. The Council was established in statute by the New Jersey Legislature to advise the Commissioner, State Board of Education and Legislature on issues affecting career and technical education. Member districts operate 60 schools throughout the state and educate about 65,000 students each year in high schools and post-secondary programs.

Gargiulo, one of the most highly-regarded educators in Hudson County, has been the superintendent of HCST for 16 years. With responsibility for the education of approximately 5,200 students from middle school-aged children to adults, HCST is the largest county vocational-technical school district in the state. As superintendent of HCST, he oversees and approves curriculum for 11 schools, including KAS Prep and County Prep high schools, as well as the Explore 2000 Middle School and Career Academy.

Also under his supervision is High Tech High School. Since 1991, when the school first opened, it has been named a Top Ten High School by New Jersey Monthly, a Governor's School of Excellence, and New Jersey Star School (twice).

Diana Lobosco, the immediate past president of the Council and superintendent of Passaic County Technical Institute, said Gargiulo is well-respected for his straight-forward honesty and persuasiveness on issues of importance to him. "Frank's devotion to students is unmatched by any educator I know. His passion for career and technical education -- and the importance of education for all students -- is legendary throughout the state," Lobosco said.

Gargiulo graduated from the University of Notre Dame, where he majored in business. He earned a Masters of Supervision and Administration from Seton Hall University and served in the U.S. Army. Prior to becoming superintendent of HCST, Gargiulo was a history and economics teacher at St. Joseph -The Palisades School. He then served as the school's principal for 15 years.

Gargiulo currently serves as a North Bergen Commissioner and is a former member of the New Jersey State Assembly.