Paulette Bearer will become a principal in a school district in Union County.
By: David Campbell
MONTGOMERY Orchard Hill Elementary School Principal Paulette Bearer submitted her resignation to the Board of Education this month to become a principal in a school district in Union County.
Ms. Bearer plans to leave Montgomery at the end of February to start a new job as principal of Orange Avenue School in Cranford Township, the administration announced Tuesday. The school board accepted her resignation during an executive session Jan. 14, the administration said.
"Paulette Bearer was an excellent principal," said district Assistant to the Superintendent Jack Rotter. "She did excellent things in the district. We are sorry to see her leave and we wish her well in her new position."
Mr. Rotter said he did not know the reason for Ms. Bearer’s departure. According to Ms. Bearer, "Professionally, it seemed like a good move at this time."
Ms. Bearer joined Montgomery schools in June 2001, replacing Betty Ward, who retired as Orchard Hill’s principal after 30 years with the district.
Prior to her arrival in Montgomery, Ms. Bearer had been the principal at the Whitehouse School in Whitehouse Station since 1996.
She served as principal at Hainesport Township School in Hainesport and at St. Ann School, a Catholic school in Lawrence, before moving to the Whitehouse School, and has been a teacher in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Montreal.
She also had a career in computer technology, working as a business systems analyst for AT&T and for Merrill Lynch.
Ms. Bearer received her bachelor’s degree in English and master’s in education from Trenton State College. She has taken graduate courses in educational administration at Rutgers University and has taken technology courses at the Chubb Institute.
On Tuesday night, Superintendent of Schools Stuart Schnur recommended that the board appoint Susan Lacy, vice principal of Village Elementary School since July 2000, to succeed Ms. Bearer starting March 3, the administration said.
Dr. Schnur also recommended Michael Richards, vice principal at Montgomery Middle School since September 2000, for the post as principal of the Lower Middle School when it opens in September 2004.
"I have complete confidence that these educational leaders will bring vision, energy and organization in a time of transition and change," Dr. Schnur said. "I believe these moves will position Montgomery Township schools to continue as a leader in academic achievement as the district grows and evolves."
The school board is expected to interview the candidates for the two principal positions in executive session on Feb. 11, Mr. Rotter said.

