Jones will receive $2,500 grant
By:David Koch
MANSFIELD Northern Burlington County Regional High School Principal Joseph Jones may not have initially set out to be a principal, but his peers seem to think he’s doing a good job .
After being a high school principal for nine years, he has just won the 2002 New Jersey High School Principal of the Year Award from Met Life and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
Mr. Jones will receive an award and a $2,500 grant from the two sponsors.
"I don’t know if anyone aspires to be a principal, but I did when I had an opportunity," said Mr. Jones.
After winning the state award, Mr. Jones will have a chance in January to compete in Washington, D.C., for National Principal of the Year.
The award was designed to honor middle and high school principals who demonstrate success in solving complex issues, educational leadership and community service.
"He’s put in a lot of time to the school," said Northern Burlington Board of Education Vice President Kermit Pigott. "He’s there early in the morning and I see him at every function. He’s a very dedicated professional and I think all the administration is like that."
Mr. Jones said he thinks the award is also a reflection of professional dedication at Northern Burlington Regional School District.
"I’ve said that a school run well has a lot to do with the people in the school," said Mr. Jones. "It’s nice to have the recognition that this award brings, not only to myself, but to the whole school district. It’s recognition that Northern Burlington does good quality work."
Mr. Jones, 38, started as a high school math and science teacher in Woodbury. From a teacher, he became a department supervisor to assistant principal to a principal.
Mr. Jones said he likes being a principal for the diversity. He said he gets to interact with teachers, students, administrators, parents and other community members.
"There is not a typical day, but there are routine cycles," said Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones said he is currently interviewing prospective teachers for next year.
A math and business major and education minor from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, Mr. Jones said education came naturally to him. His father was a teacher. His wife, Jennifer, also is a teacher.
Mr. Jones now lives in Medford where he and his wife have four boys.
"The days are long and there’s a good bit of night work, but my wife has been very supportive of my efforts here at the school," said Mr. Jones.