It feels like musical chairs lately in Montclair’s school district. And last night, a few more big switches were announced:
- In January, Ms. Cheryl Hopper took on the position of principal at Edgemont Montessori School, which was left open after Dr. Adunni Anderson announced her retirement last June. Between the two, Dr. Jeanne Pryor, former Assistant Superintendent for the Montclair Public Schools, served as the interim principal.
- In March, Dr. Frank Alvarez announced he would be resigning from his position as Superintendent of Schools. We later found out that he would be taking a Superintendent position in Rye, NY.
- The BoE announced the hiring of Dr. Barbara Strobert as Interim Superintendent until they found someone to take on the position permanently.
- In February, it was announced that the principal of Charles H. Bullock School, Dr. Barbara Weller, would be taking on the role of Assistant Superintendent of Instruction in the district. Kathy Lindsay, former Northeast principal, took on the role of Interim Principal.
- Dr. Peter Turnamian announced he was resigning as principal at Watchung Elementary School in April to take an Assistant Superintendent position in Newark. The position has not been filled yet for the new school year.
- Ms. Nami Kuwabara was named principal of Charles H. Bullock School last week. That leaves an open teaching position. She will fill the position left open by Dr. Barbara Weller, who took on the role of Assistant Superintendent of Instruction.
- At last night’s BoE meeting, according to The Montclair Times, Dr. Alvarez announced that Mr. Guy Whitlock, the principal of Mt. Hebron Middle School would be leaving the position to take on a new assignment in Central Office.
- Also at last night’s meeting was the announcement of a new BoE president. Robin Kulwin will now take the role and Shelley Lombard, who served as president for the past two years, will step down but continue on as a BoE member. Lombard was recently re-appointed for another three years by Mayor Fried.