MONTVALE, N.J.—Dirk Phillips, former superintendent of Glen Ridge and assistant superintendent in Berkeley Heights, was unanimously approved by the Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education to serve as interim superintendent from May 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
He will replace Sarah Bilotti, who is stepping down after three years in the role.
Bilotti’s resignation is effective June 30. She is set to begin as superintendent of the Eastern Camden County Regional School District on July 1.
Bilotti announced her resignation—and her new position—in an email to district parents on Friday, April 4, at approximately 3:30 p.m., stating that she had accepted “an opportunity to lead a regional district in South Jersey, which will allow me to be closer to my family.”
School trustees appointed Phillips following a nearly 50-minute closed session prior to the April 28 board meeting. He will be paid $825 per day for each day he is employed by the district, said board president Gini Varghese, reading from the resolution appointing Phillips.
The Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education is comprised of nine board members elected by constituents in the four municipalities whose students attend Pascack Valley Regional High School District. Three members are elected from the Borough of Hillsdale, two from the Borough of Montvale, two from the Township of River Vale, and two from the Borough of Woodcliff Lake.
Pascack Press has requested a copy of Phillips’ contract agreement from the board.
Phillips attended the April 28 meeting and was warmly welcomed by trustees and the approximately 20 residents in attendance.
Before appointing Phillips, the board approved a resolution (8–0) granting Bilotti a leave of absence to use her contractually allotted days from April 28 through June 30. Trustee Michael Weaver abstained from the vote but did not publicly state a reason.
According to reporting in TAPinto Berkeley Heights, Phillips most recently served as interim assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction, and student achievement in Berkeley Heights. Before that, he spent 19 years in the Glen Ridge School District, including nearly nine years as superintendent through June 2024.
January 2010–July 2015, he was principal of Glen Ridge High School, serving approximately 800 students in grades 7–12. Prior to that, he was principal of Ridgewood Avenue School (2004–2009), assistant principal at Glen Ridge High School (2000–2004), and a math teacher (1995–2000).
Phillips is also a longtime wrestling coach, named Region 4 Coach of the Year in 2001 and twice honored as District 13 Wrestling Coach of the Year.
He was recognized as the 2023 Essex County Superintendent of the Year by the Essex County Association of School Administrators.