Stony Brook Elementary principal to take Colts Neck post

Recently retired Hopewell principal, Mike Fitzpatrick, will return to work.

By John Tredrea
   One Fitzpatrick is going and the other is coming back.
   Capping a 10-year-career in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, Stony Brook Elementary School Principal Richard Fitzpatrick has resigned, effective Aug. 30.
   Dr. Fitzpatrick will become superintendent of schools in Colts Neck. His interim replacement will be Michael Fitzpatrick (no relation), who will come out of retirement on Sept. 1 and work until a replacement for Dr. Fitzpatrick has been hired.
   Michael Fitzpatrick was principal of Hopewell Elementary when he retired July 1 after 28 years in the district. He also is a former principal of Timberlane Middle School and Central High School teacher.
   Richard Fitzpatrick was principal of Toll Gate Grammar School for eight years before becoming Stony Brook principal two years ago, when that school opened in the Brandon Farms development in Hopewell Township.
   "What a loss he will be for our district," Superintendent Nick Lorenzetti said during Monday’s school board meeting, when Dr. Fitzpatrick’s resignation was accepted officially. "Dr. Fitzpatrick’s deep commitment and high standards are legendary in our district, so we understand better than anyone why he would be an attractive candidate to run a district," the superintendent added. "Colts Neck is extremely lucky to have him."
   "Thanks to Dr. Fitzpatrick for, among many other accomplishments, starting up a new school (Stony Brook) for us," added board President Bill Hills. "It was a daunting task. We had a very smooth and wonderful opening of that school."
   Michael Fitzpatrick will be paid $487 a day while filling the Stony Brook principalship on an interim basis. Mr. Lorenzetti said he is the logical choice for the interim assignment "given his familiarity with the district and local impacts of the federal No Child Left Behind law."
   The board on Monday also voted unanimously to hire Steven Wilfing, who will be half-time vice principal at Stony Brook and half-time pre-kindergarten through grade five language arts supervisor.
   Mr. Wilfing, 36, comes to Hopewell Valley from North Brunwick’s Linwood Middle School, where he was an English teacher and house dean. A Hamilton resident, he will be paid $80,000 annually. Mr. Wilfing, who grew up in Ewing, has a bachelor’s degree from Francis Marion University in South Carolina and a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Seton Hall.
   At Stony Brook Elementary, he will replace Susan Weinman, who resigned Aug. 5 to become principal of Thomas Paine Elementary School in Cherry Hill.