Our Leadership

Dr. Matthew Block joined the Ardsley Union Free School District as Superintendent of Schools on July 1, 2024. With over twenty-five years of experience in education, Dr. Block began his career as a social studies teacher and then worked as an assistant principal and principal. In 2015, he took on the role of Director of Human Resources with the Summit Public Schools in Summit, New Jersey, overseeing new teacher recruitment, hiring, onboarding, professional development, mentoring, employee relations, and staff evaluation. Most recently, Dr. Block served as Superintendent of Schools for the high-achieving Livingston Public Schools in Livingston, New Jersey, managing over 6,000 students from Pre-K through 12. Throughout his career, Dr. Block has focused on using student-centered instruction to engage students in the learning process.

Dr. Block, who was born and raised in West Orange, New Jersey, earned a bachelor's degree in history and communications from The American University in Washington, DC, and two master's degrees from Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ, in teaching and education administration. He completed his doctorate of education at Caldwell University, focusing on new teacher mentoring and induction, and received an award for Outstanding Dissertation for his work. Dr. Block proudly received the Nora Radest Award for Educational Excellence from the Summit Educational Foundation for his work in establishing 21st-century collaborative and technology-infused learning environments and promoting inquiry-based instruction at the middle school level. In 2024, the New Jersey State Legislature presented Dr. Block with a proclamation commending his work as Superintendent of Schools in Livingston. Early in his career, Dr. Block directed summer camps in New York and New Jersey and currently serves as a member of the Board of Managers for Fairview Lake YMCA Camps, a branch of the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges.