JAMES J. LAVENDER, Ed.D.
SUPERINTENDENT

Dr. James J. Lavender serves as the Superintendent of Schools for the Kingsway Regional School District. In this role, he functions as the Chief Executive Officer of the district, overseeing all operations, school facilities, and financial management in accordance with the rules, regulations, and policies of the Board of Education. Dr. Lavender was appointed as Kingsway’s eighth Superintendent of Schools on September 1, 2010.

Professional Experience: Throughout his career, Dr. Lavender has gained a broad range of educational experience, culminating in his leadership at Kingsway. He brings extensive administrative expertise and a strong background in shared services, and continues to collaborate with sending districts to explore opportunities for increased efficiency and effectiveness.

As Superintendent, Dr. Lavender has led the district through a period of significant student enrollment growth. Under his leadership, Kingsway has expanded its facilities, implemented innovative academic programs, and increased instructional resources to better serve all students. Among his most impactful accomplishments was leading a decade-long grassroots advocacy effort to reform New Jersey’s school funding formula. This work contributed to the passage of Senate Bill 2 (S2) on July 24, 2018, which eliminated student growth limits and resulted in millions of additional dollars in state aid for Kingsway.

A resident of Woolwich Township, Dr. Lavender began his educational career in 1995 with the Delsea Regional School District, where he taught U.S. and World History at the high school, alternative high school, and middle school levels. During this time, he was recognized as Outstanding Middle School Teacher of the Year.

In 2002, he was appointed Assistant Principal in the Gloucester City School District and was later promoted to Director of Early Childhood Education. While in Gloucester City, Dr. Lavender was recognized by Wilmington University with the President’s Award for Leadership in 2006 for his research in early childhood education. His work was subsequently published in book form by VDM Publishing under the title: Looping Through Preschool: The Benefits of Looping on Kindergarten Readiness.

In 2006, Dr. Lavender accepted the role of Principal and Superintendent in the Gibbsboro Elementary School District. In 2008, he was additionally appointed Superintendent of both Gibbsboro and the Berlin Borough School Districts. Under his leadership, the two districts successfully implemented a fully shared central administration within two years, establishing a model for shared services in South Jersey. Prior to his departure, Dr. Lavender also served Gibbsboro as School Business Administrator. In August 2010, he was formally recognized by the Gibbsboro Board of Education for his contributions to the district.

Education and Certification
Dr. Lavender earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Secondary Education from Rowan University in 1995. He later earned a Master of Education degree in School Leadership in 2002 and a Doctorate in Educational Innovation and Leadership from Wilmington University in 2006. He is a licensed School Administrator, a certified School Business Administrator, and a SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) in Human Resources.