She will replace current Schools Superintendent Constantino Scerbo, who will retire on Aug. 31.
Randina's first day on the job will be Sept. 1.
According to School Administrator Ed Walkiewicz, Randina beat out 26 other applicants for the job and received unanimous support from the nine-member school board.
Randina's annual salary will be between $190,000 and $195,000, plus benefits.
"Based on the interviews that we had with her, it was clear that she was focused on education and she was very approachable," said School Board member Eleanore Reinl. "I thought she made a good impression and would be able to relate well to the staff and parents here."
Randina is currently the Acting Schools Superintendent for Wayne Public Schools in Passaic County, a position she has held since July 2007.
She holds a masters degree in administration and supervision from Montclair State University, and a second masters from New York University.
Randina has completed all the necessary coursework for her doctorate degree and is currently working on her dissertation.
In addition, she also holds a number of teaching certificates.
Coming from bigger district
Randina began her career in the public school system in New York City, where she taught math, Spanish, and English as a second language.
Eventually she moved into an administrative position in that school system and worked in a number of capacities between 1986 and 1996 before leaving to join the public education system in Wayne as director of elementary education.
She became the assistant schools superintendent of the Wayne Public Schools in 2004, and held that position until she became the acting superintendent last summer.
According to published reports in the Herald News, Randina initially applied to be the permanent superintendent in Wayne. However, she reportedly withdrew her application.
At the time she withdrew her name from consideration, Randina explained the move to the News, saying, "I like curriculum, I love the work I do."
Randina did not explain her decision further and did not return six calls seeking comment last week.
The education district in Wayne has 14 schools, 9,000 students, and a budget of $130 million, according to the local newspaper there.
The Secaucus School System is much smaller in comparison, with a student population of only 2,000 and an annual budget of $34.2 million.
Impressive 'work ethic'
When Randina begins this fall, she may have to win over parents who had hoped the new superintendent would be selected from within the Secaucus school system.
At a series of community input meetings held in February, several parents explicitly stated they wanted the new superintendent to be a current teacher, principal, or administrator in Secaucus.
Reinl, however, believes Randina will have few problems gaining support from the community.
"I was very impressed with her work ethic," Reinl said. "When we approached her for an interview, she was in the middle of the budget process in her current school district. And even though she was applying for the job here, it was very clear that she was concerned about getting the budget passed there and making sure that school district had what it needed for its next fiscal year. I liked that."
Two finalists interviewed
Randina's appointment comes after a six-month search that was facilitated by the Trenton-based New Jersey School Boards Association.
Applicants for the job were expected to have a New Jersey School Administrator Certificate or a Certificate of Eligibility for School Administrator, and were required to have a minimum of five years experience as a principal and/or working in a central office.
A doctorate degree, classroom teaching experience, previous employment as a superintendent or assistant superintendent, and administrative experience in a K-12 school system were also preferred, but not required, for the job.
The New Jersey School Boards Association typically gets about 30 to 35 applications when its does superintendent searches, a representative of the organization said in February. This is slightly more than the number of applicants who expressed interest in the Secaucus Schools Superintendent position.
Of the 27 people who applied for the position, the school board interviewed two finalists, including Randina.
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