Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Raymond A. González has been named New Jersey’s 2026 Superintendent of the Year by the NJ Association of School Administrators, bringing recognition to not only Dr. González, but Westfield’s prestigious public schools.
Dr. González was named the Union County Superintendent of the Year in June and the NJ Regional Superintendent of the Year in September. He is now a contender for the National Superintendent of the Year Award by the American Association of School Administrators.
“I’ve done all of this work not for any recognition, but because I wanted to be able to have an impact and do some good in the lives of students,” said Dr. González. “Education was always that space that I thought would have the greatest opportunity. When I got an award that acknowledged that work, it was exciting and validating.”
According to the NJASA, “Dr. González’s breadth of knowledge, strategic insight and unwavering commitment to excellence continue to advance progress across New Jersey’s public education system.”
As noted by the NJASA, Dr. González has been recognized for leading multimillion-dollar bond initiatives, navigating major fiscal challenges and launching a five-year plan prioritizing safety, learning, leadership, community and resources.
Before taking the superintendent job in Westfield in 2021, Dr. González served as superintendent of both the Westwood Regional School District and Wayne Township Public Schools, with a total of 27 years in school administration. “I want to be able to use my experience to help move the district forward,” Dr. González told Hi’s Eye.
However, Dr. González does not entirely credit himself for his recent win. “Using the opportunity every time I have a chance to share my gratitude and pride in what we do, it’s always about highlighting the collective effort that makes this possible,” said Dr. González. “For me, any opportunity I [am recognized] puts us on the front line and puts Westfield as a school district, a community and all the participants therein, as co-recipients of this.”
WHS Principal Mary Asfendis said, “The recognition of [Dr. González] as a person recognizes all the great things he has done for our district.”
Dr. González has made his advocacy for public education clear, noting how this recognition amplifies his platform. He explained, “Being able to have a voice at a local, state, and then potentially at a national level, helps to elevate the discussion more prominently — that we really need to invest in our public schools.”
The National Conference of Education held by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, will take place in February in Nashville, TN. Dr. González said that if he wins the award, he will utilize the publicity as a way to garner support for public education.
Dr. González said, “We need to figure out how to embrace things like artificial intelligence so that education is not left behind while the rest of the world is moving forward.”