Kristy DeFazio may have been thrust into her new role as acting superintendent just weeks before the start of the 2026-27 school year, but she was unfazed because she knew the faces and all the players involved.
DeFazio was selected by the Robbinsville Board of Education to serve as acting superintendent for the entire 2026-27 school year.
She takes over the top spot from former Superintendent Patrick Pizzo, who unexpectedly resigned before the start of the school year in August.
“Coming into this role (acting superintendent) it was very streamlined. I knew the faces,” she said. “I knew all the players involved so it was a real welcome party back. Seeing familiar faces and being able to move forward to a great year ahead.”
With the beginning of the new school year, a main area of focus for DeFazio was opening the schools safely and securely and welcoming students back.
“That was a big piece of what we worked on leading into the start of the school year. That is safe arrival, safe dismissal from school and making sure that kids felt welcomed back into the buildings as well as our staff members,” she said.
“Then of course making sure our staff is ready welcoming them back making sure that they are secure in the classrooms and in their roles. I was very lucky to have been in the district for the past four years in a curriculum capacity.”
DeFazio, who has served as assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment and as a director in the school district, now leads a Robbinsville Public Schools administration that oversees three schools: Sharon Elementary School, Pond Road Middle School and Robbinsville High School.
The district is coming off a challenging year after facing $2.4 million in budget cuts and a failed $5 million tax referendum. This new school year brings the same concerns about programs and staffing.
Thinking about the school year, DeFazio said she really wanted everyone to feel calm heading into the year, knowing they are supported.
“That was huge piece of this for me coming into this role more so in an acting position I wanted people to feel that we have you. Your secure, your kids are safe with us, and we are going to have a great year ahead,” she added.
“It is going to be business as usual. We are going to keep on teaching our students in our classrooms, make sure our kids are having a great experience at Robbinsville Public Schools.”
DeFazio is going to take on the position by listening, learning and gathering information to make informed decisions.
“All of us are going to come together and really work this out. We are going to make sure we are setup for success moving forward,” she shared.
To help navigate any stress from students, parents, guardians or staff this school year and during the upcoming budget season, DeFazio said she will make sure people feel informed and have the right information, ensuring that it is a collaborative effort.
“I do feel strongly in the strong leadership team in any budgetary process regardless of the current climate of what a budget looks like. I think it is a more conducive kind of experience when everyone is a part of those conversations,” she noted.
“Then from there we are very lucky to work with an incredible board. We have great board members who are very involved. Making sure that they are aware of everything and that communication is clear and that we all are sharing the same messaging.”
Something she really focuses on as a leader moving forward is being present.
“That is something I think is very important. Being present eases a lot of tension, being able to answer difficult questions, and just being there to be part of the experience with them,” DeFazio said.
The open-door policy and open communication philosophy DeFazio has had in her roles in the school district regarding curriculum will remain with her in her new role as acting superintendent.
“I have had the experience and pleasure of hosting many in-person events and webinars. You can reach me through email, through calling central office, and you’ll see me at arrivals and dismissals,” she explained.
“There is always an open-door policy when it comes to our staff, especially our students, and our parents. I’m available. The best way to ease any level tension and make people feel a part of the school community is to welcome them in.”
DeFazio said she is lucky to have a very strong leadership team across the district, as well as support from the mayor and police department.
“We have a great tight-knit community. When I took on this role they all kind of swooped in with their capes on, and were like we got you, we are supporting you,” she added.
“It has been an incredible experience. Any transition brings its challenges, but we have a really great team and community. I feel really empowered to lead.”
Accepting the role of acting superintendent was a “yes” for DeFazio without the blink of an eye.
“Getting the opportunity to lead this district I would say is an absolute pleasure in assuming the role and honored to be a part of that piece. This was something I did not look at as a challenge just something we need as a district moving forward.”
Over the course of four years in the Robbinsville Public School District, DeFazio has risen from elementary director of curriculum, instruction and assessment to director of curriculum, instruction and assessment, then assistant superintendent before taking on the position of acting superintendent of schools.
Before arriving in the school district, DeFazio was in Jamesburg Public Schools for more than four years as an early childhood supervisor and elementary school principal.
Additionally, prior to Jamesburg, she was an elementary teacher in Perth Amboy Public Schools for close to nine years.
“In my heart I am always a teacher. I was an elementary school teacher for quite some time and that was where my heart was without a doubt, but I always had that kind of leadership role within that capacity and just felt natural for me,” DeFazio explained.
“There is nothing like being in a classroom, but I now get to spread that wealth out across an entire district and be a part of that. It has been incredible experience.”
Working in low-income areas in day care facilities is where DeFazio’s journey and career in public education got its start.
“I was planning on going the corporate route, but once I started working with students and kids, I was like game on this is where I want to be. It was such a natural fit,” she said, adding that she did her student teaching in Perth Amboy and was immediately hired in an elementary setting.
“It was go time from then on out. I spent my career as teacher in Perth Amboy, transitioned to a supervisor of childhood education in Jamesburg when the state brought out preschool funding, then transition to the principal role. We got a Blue Ribbon. From there I moved on to Robbinsville and have been here the past four years and has just been an incredible ride so far.”
