PITTSGROVE TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

        P.R.I.D.E.-PATIENCE RESPECT INTEGRITY DILIGENCE EMPATHY

Office of Curriculum and Instruction

Welcome to the Office of Curriculum and Instruction. This office is responsible for the continuous growth, alignment, and evaluation of all P-12 academic programs across the Pittsgrove Township School District. Guided by our core mission, "Growing All Learners to Thrive," the department works collaboratively with administrators, faculty, families, and community partners to cultivate student-centered learning environments grounded in evidence-based practices.

Dr. Emily Virga, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction

Dr. Emily Virga serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for the Pittsgrove Township School District. As a lifelong Pittsgrove resident, A.P. Schalick High School alumna, and parent of both a current district senior and a fellow Schalick alumna, Dr. Virga brings a deeply personal, "homegrown" dedication to our learning community.  

Educational Experience & Leadership Philosophy

Dr. Virga’s educational career spans over two decades in New Jersey public schools. She spent 14 foundational years as a special education teacher, an experience that firmly rooted her commitment to inclusive practices and a love of teaching and learning. Prior to joining the Pittsgrove Township School District, she was named Kingsway Regional Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2015-2016, received a Distinguished Service Award in 2021, and excelled in district and building-level leadership roles at Kingsway Regional School District as the Chief Academic Officer, Director of Virtual Learning & Instruction, and Middle School Assistant Principal. Throughout her administrative career, her central focus has remained on designing student-centered learning experiences that turn data-informed practices into meaningful student learning outcomes.

Dr. Virga operates under the firm conviction that sustainable school improvement is rooted in collective efficacy, unlocked by empowering faculty and fostering authentic collaboration. While deeply data-driven, she views metrics through a human-centric lens, ensuring data always serves to illuminate and meet the individual needs of the child. As a champion for intentional innovation, she advocates for the purposeful integration of instructional technology and emerging AI tools to remove learning barriers. However, she balances this forward momentum with a strict commitment to developmental readiness, emphasizing the importance of "balancing the screen" so that technology amplifies, rather than replaces, the irreplaceable power of human connection and real-world critical thinking.

Credentials, Certifications & Education
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Instructional Systems Technology | Indiana University; Dissertation: Implementing data-driven small-group instruction for secondary-level tiered systems of support
M.A. in Educational Leadership | Montclair State University, Summa Cum Laude
B.A. in Economics (Minors in Environmental Science & Business Management) | Drew University, Division III Collegiate Athlete in Field Hockey and Softball.
New Jersey Department of Education Certifications

Principal Certificate

Supervisor Certificate

School Business Administrator Certificate

Teacher of the Handicapped Certificate

Elementary Teacher K-6 Certificate

Cynthia S. Snodgrass, Executive Administrative Assistant

Contact Information

📧 [email protected]

📞 856-358-3094 Ext. 4013

Cynthia "Cindy" Snodgrass serves as the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction. As a proud Pittsgrove resident, she brings over two decades of highly organized administrative expertise, deep technical proficiency, and a collaborative mindset to our central office team. Motivated by the collective "PRIDE" that the Pittsgrove community pours into its schools, she is dedicated to fostering an efficient, accurate, and welcoming environment that directly impacts student success.

Before her Pittsgrove appointment, Mrs. Snodgrass served nearly ten years as Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and Principal at Fairfield Township School. In that role, she managed executive calendars, Board documentation, human resources workflows, and community relations. Her educational background includes serving as a Child Study Team Secretary, overseeing special education records and data tracking. Mrs. Snodgrass also brings 23 years of private-sector experience as a Senior Administrative Assistant and Technical Lead, where she focused on complex reporting, billing, and quality reviews.

Mrs. Snodgrass possesses highly specialized expertise in managing New Jersey's critical student information systems and central operations platforms, including NJ SLEDS, NJ Homeroom, Frontline, OnCourse, Public School Works, Budgeting and Board software. She is also a commissioned Notary Public for the State of New Jersey.

Click here to Meet the C&I Team

Core Responsibilities of the C&I Office

The Office of Curriculum and Instruction handles executive oversight of the district’s academic architecture, central management operations, state compliance mandates, and systemic support programs:

• P-12 Academic Programs & Frameworks: Manages curriculum development, course recommendations, academic programming, and graduation requirements for the P-12 continuum.
• Textbook & Material Adoptions: Directs committee-led selection of instructional materials for Board approval.
• Interdistrict Choice & Partnership Programs: Manages Public School Choice and SCVTS Partnership Academy compliance and administration.
• Specialized Program Coordination: Coordinates Gifted and Talented programs and aligns instructional planning with Special Education.
• Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS): Leads district-wide implementation and fidelity monitoring of academic and behavioral MTSS frameworks.
• School Age Child Care (SACC): Provides administrative and operational oversight for extended-day enrichment programs.
• District Compliance Officer: Ensures Section 504 regulatory alignment and conducts annual staff training.
• State Reporting & Funding: Manages grant applications, NJ SMART/SLEDS reporting, QSAC monitoring, and alternative funding searches.
• Assessment & Data: Serves as District Testing Coordinator, managing all local/state testing and data-driven instructional analysis.
• Professional Development & Evaluation: Oversees staff training, mentoring, and formal performance evaluations for all personnel.
• ESSA & Title I Management: Administers federal grants and oversees recruitment and evaluation of basic skills and Title I staff.

About Pittsgrove Township School District Our school district proudly serves the students of Pittsgrove Township and Elmer, as well as surrounding communities through its School Choice and SCVTS Partnership Academy programs. Through a commitment to high academic standards and strong community partnerships, Pittsgrove remains steadfast in its core mission: "Growing All Learners to Thrive".