Leadership

Dr. Ronald F. Larkin, Director & Principal

Over the course of an exceptional forty year career, Dr. Larkin has served as a Teacher, Supervisor, Principal and Superintendent of Schools in some of New Jersey’s largest and most complex school districts. He has designed and implemented specialized curriculums, trained teachers towards improved competencies, and initiated and won numerous funding proposals in partnership with government and Fortune 500 companies. Born and raised in New Jersey, Ron obtained both his B.A. and Ed.M. in Elementary Education from Jersey City State College, his C.A.S in Educational Administration and Supervision from Newark State College and his Ed.D. from Rutgers University. Among numerous certifications and distinctions, Ron was named Superintendent of the Year by the New Jersey Association of School Administrators in 1995 and later served as the organization’s President. Ron has served as a coach, a mentor, and in a variety of leadership roles, making the learning process a more meaningful one for all stakeholders. He has been recognized as a distinguished alumnus, member of numerous honor societies, the New Jersey School Boards Association, and the state’s Council for Education, to name but a few of his professional affiliations.

Anthony G. Gebbia, Principal

Anthony G. Gebbia was named the school’s Principal in July 2010 but he knows our community very well having spent over ten years of his career here, serving in the classroom and as an outreach worker. Tony’s intimate knowledge of what makes Montgomery Academy so special will be invaluable in charting the future success of the school. Tony returns to us from Midland School in Branchburg in which he was the Special Education Supervisor of Family Services and prior to that, Tony was the School Social Worker and Special Education Supervisor at Windsor School located in Pompton Lakes. He holds both a BA in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Kean University, and also an MSW from Hunter College of Social Work. He also holds Principal, Supervisor and Social Worker certifications and has been trained in substance abuse awareness and therapeutic crisis intervention as well. Tony was nominated by ASAH (www.asah.org) as a Regional Para-professional of the Year in 1997 and will no doubt honor the school’s unique philosophy and traditions as our community of learners celebrates its 40th year of service to NJ students with special needs.

Ms. Cheryl Lentini, Supervisor of Curriculum & Instruction

Cheryl Lentini has served our school community as a Teacher, and more recently as Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, for over twenty-eight years. Ms. Lentini obtained her B.A. in Psychology from Ramapo College and her Masters degree in Special Education from Teacher’s College, Columbia University and has been working with special needs students the whole of her adult life. She shares a very special relationship with Montgomery Academy, having seen the school through many changes since its inception as the North Jersey Child Development Center back in 1970. Cheryl epitomizes the master teacher who respects our philosophy and young traditions, bringing joy and creativity to the processes of teaching and learning. She is loved by the students and staff and brings enormous energy and enthusiasm to her role in the lives of young people.