SOMERVILLE, NJ — Somerville Public Schools is heading into the 2026-2027 school year with a fresh start on several fronts: new staff members, new leaders, a new preschool program, and freshly renovated spaces in each of its three buildings.
“There is a lot to be excited about as we begin the new school year,” Superintendent Gary Lubisco said. “We are welcoming great new staff and leaders, expanding our preschool program through our partnership with the YMCA, and seeing important improvements take shape throughout the district. At the end of the day, all of this work is about giving our students the best possible educational experience.”
“I’m incredibly thankful to our staff, administrative team, and buildings and grounds crew for everything they have done this summer to get us ready,” Lubisco said, “and we are excited to welcome our students back.”
The district welcomed its newest educators last week with a three-day orientation designed to help them settle into their roles before students return to school.
The orientation, held Aug. 25, 26, and 27, gave new staff members a chance to immerse themselves in the district’s culture and learn about the support available to them as they begin the school year. Sessions covered safety, security, supporting student learning, and fostering an inclusive environment for all learners, according to the district.
The Somerville Education Foundation and the Somerville Education Association provided lunch for the new hires during orientation. Somerville Board of Education member Denise Van Horn led the group on a district bus tour throughout the Somerville area.
District Leadership said support for the new staff will continue well beyond the first week of school. The district is offering a New Staff Academy series this year, providing ongoing professional learning and mentorship opportunities for new educators throughout the school year.
The new school year also brings a new preschool partnership between the district and the Somerville YMCA. New preschool classrooms are opening at both Van Derveer School and the YMCA, and the two programs will operate as a joint preschool community.
Under the partnership, staff at both sites will take part in shared professional development focused on the Creative Curriculum, and the district’s new Kickstart Literacy program. The goal, according to the district, is to build consistent, high-quality learning experiences for children regardless of which location they attend.
Monica Clewell, the district’s new Supervisor of Early Childhood Education, and Vee Adams, the YMCA’s new Director of Youth Services, spent the summer working together to bring the two programs into alignment for the start of school. District officials described the collaboration as the beginning of a long-term partnership focused on supporting preschool staff, children, and families.
Clewell is one of three new additions to Somerville’s leadership team.
She brings 23 years of experience in education and joins Somerville from the Montgomery Township School District, where she taught students in grades Pre-K through 2 and grade 5 in both general and special education settings. For the past 15 years, she also served as Summer Learning Supervisor for Montgomery’s “SOAR” program, overseeing educational initiatives for grades Pre-K through 12.
Clare Samuel joins the district as Supervisor of Mathematics for grades 6 through 12 and will also provide math instruction. Samuel has more than 17 years of experience in mathematics education spanning grades 6 through 12 and comes to Somerville from Princeton Public Schools, where she taught in both general and special education settings.
Heather Mills-Pevonis has been named Supervisor of School Counseling at Somerville High School. Mills-Pevonis brings more than 26 years of experience in education, social work, and crisis intervention, having served in leadership roles ranging from local school district supervision to state-level oversight with the New Jersey Department of Education. Her background includes a focus on student wellness, mental health initiatives, policy development, and program implementation to support diverse student populations.
The district said it looks forward to the expertise the three supervisors bring as it works to foster supportive and effective learning environments across its schools, according to Lubisco.
Those new educators will be working in buildings that look noticeably different than they did in June.
Crews spent the summer on projects funded by the district’s $44 million bond referendum, approved by voters in March 2025. Renovations to the main office at Somerville Middle School, the multipurpose room at Van Derveer Elementary School, and the exterior ramp at Somerville High schools were all scheduled to be finished before students return, while larger projects including the high school auditorium and science labs, a middle school addition, and new turf field at Van Derveer continue into the fall. Read more about the referendum construction here.
Somerville Public Schools operates Van Derveer Elementary School, Somerville Middle School and Somerville High School.
The school year opens for students on Wednesday, September 2.