Zelenak accepts superintendent’s post in S. Jersey By louis c. hochman M
Zelenak, who became principal of the school at its opening six years ago, announced this week that she will leave Millstone to become superintendent of schools in Port Republic.
She made the announcement on March 16, one day after the Port Republic Board of Education approved her application for the position.
Her resignation is effective May 12.
Zelenak said she was not actively looking to leave her position in Millstone, and only heard about the Port Republic position recently while at a reception in Mays Landing, a town near Port Republic where she taught second grade before coming to Millstone.
"My friends there asked if I had heard about the opening, and I hadn’t as of yet," Zelenak said, "but they thought I would be perfect for the job and they thought they would love me there in Port Republic so I applied."
Port Republic is a K-8 district with about 145 students and one class per grade, she said.
The Millstone Township Elementary School has 898 pupils in kindergarten through fourth grade.
"It’s going to be a very different experience for me, being in the smaller district and having all the responsibilities of a superintendent," Zelenak said.
She said while she is excited by the new opportunity, having to leave Millstone to take the position makes the experience bittersweet.
"As I said in my letter to the (Millstone) board, no matter where I go the children could never be better than the ones here in Millstone," she said. "In my time here I’ve enjoyed so much working with the teachers as well. I’ve formed many friendships that I hope will last a lifetime.
"I hope just because I won’t be working here, it doesn’t mean those friendships have to end. There’s so much that I’ve learned here, working in this district, and so much I hope to take with me from all those experiences," she said.
Before becoming principal of the Millstone Township Elementary School, Zelenak was vice principal at the George L. Hess Education Complex in Mays Landing. Prior to that, she was the community education director for the New Egypt school system. She began her teaching career in Allentown, at the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary School.
The Millstone Township Board of Education has not yet selected an interim elementary school principal to serve while searching for Zelenak’s replacement.