Longtime Resident Dr. Scott Rocco takes over as District Superintendent

Dr. Scott Rocco Superintendent of Hamilton School District
Dr. Scott Rocco Superintendent of Hamilton School District 

After a nearly two-year hiatus, the Hamilton Township School District has named a permanent superintendent to take the administrative reins.

At a Feb. 6 special meeting, the township’s school board announced that the current Spotswood Superintendent, Scott Rocco, an 18-year Hamilton resident, would be filling the district’s top post.

“The job was a good fit as an educator, because I see the work being done by our teachers, administrators and board of education and I am excited to work with them,” Rocco said. “As a resident of Hamilton, I look forward to building strong school and community relations for the betterment of our students, school district and community.”

Aside from the four years Rocco has spent as Spotswood’s chief administrator, he’s also dedicated the past five years to his alma mater, The College of New Jersey, where he’s worked as an adjunct professor.

Rocco graduated from TCNJ with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 1994 and subsequently, a master’s degree in 1999.

He went on to attend Seton Hall University, retaining a doctorate in education in 2014.

Rocco has made bounds in his career since first accepting a vice principal position with a middle school in Hillsborough in 1999. 

Prior to landing his current job in Spotswood, a district comprised of four schools, he filled the role of an elementary school principal and assistant to the superintendent in Hillsborough.

In Spotswood, Rocco has been instrumental in transitioning the district’s curriculum to the common core, as well as addressing PARCC assessment changes.

“My primary focus will be to work with our faculty, staff and administrators on providing our students with an excellent education and building strong community relations with our stakeholders,” he said.

Rocco’s official first day in Hamilton is slated for May 8.  He will be replacing the district’s Interim Superintendent Thomas Ficarra, who was appointed by the school board in May 2015.

“From now until the end of this school year, I will work to meet students, staff, faculty, administration, parents and community members and then develop a plan for addressing topics brought up in those meetings,” Rocco said.  “I will also work to visit each school during the school day and attend as many district events as possible.”

About The Author



By way of the U.S. Air Force, Maria Prato is a California native turned Jersey transplant. Her past and present titles include: award-winning wordsmith, veteran, avid conversationalist, gym mouse and more importantly, single mom. Streetwise and Sooner-educated, Ms. Prato will likely be remembered as a left-leaning workaholic, who had a colorful use of the language.