TEANECK — The Teaneck school district has begun the search for a new superintendent as it faces leadership turnover, a contested school board election and tens of millions of dollars in building repairs.

Superintendent Andre Spencer announced in June that he would leave Teaneck to take over the Willingboro School District on Aug. 17. Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Angela Davis was appointed interim superintendent on July 15.

The Board of Education says it expects the search to take six to 12 months. Board President Nadia Hosein and Vice President Gerald Kirshenbaum said the district is committed to a “thoughtful, careful and thorough search.”

The board has not yet decided which firm will conduct the search. The New Jersey School Boards Association is scheduled to present its superintendent search process to the board on Aug. 19, and Hosein said the district hopes to identify a search firm by the end of September.

The district is also searching for a replacement for Assistant Superintendent Marshall Scott, who announced his departure shortly before Spencer's resignation.

The leadership changes come as the district confronts several major issues.

Teaneck could soon have its third superintendent in eight years, following the departures of Christopher Irving and Spencer. Spencer's tenure also drew scrutiny after the district allowed a pro-Palestinian student march following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, leading to a federal civil rights investigation.

The next superintendent will also inherit a district preparing for a major facilities decision. The district has identified approximately $93.3 million in needed repairs across its eight school buildings, although a referendum that had been expected this fall has been pushed to 2027.

Meanwhile, the school board election is again contested, with five candidates competing for three seats in November. Incumbents Kirshenbaum and David Gruber are seeking reelection, while Trustee James Wolff is not running.

That means the board that ultimately selects Teaneck's next permanent superintendent could look different from the board conducting the search today.

For the district, the search comes at a pivotal moment — with a new leader expected to take on everything from major capital needs to ongoing questions about school leadership and community relations.