Principal is supporting a new team

Eagles fan will be leading students at Indian Fields School.

By: Lacey Korevec
   Though he may spend a few Sundays this fall at Lincoln Financial Field supporting his favorite team, the Philadelphia Eagles, 35-year-old Mark Daniels will spend Mondays through Fridays leading a different team this year.
   Starting today (Thursday), Mr. Daniels replaces Andrea Orlando, who resigned, as principal of Indian Fields School. In his new position, Mr. Daniels said he hopes to strengthen the school’s sense of community and help students score high levels of achievement.
   After earning bachelor’s degrees in journalism, mass media and African studies from Rutgers University, Mr. Daniels went on to receive a master’s degree in educational administration from Cheyney University, Cheyney, Pa. He joined the district in 2001 as assistant principal of Crossroads South, where he stayed for five years, and will earn $111,000 as principal of Indian Fields this year.
   When he first became an administrator for South Brunswick, he envisioned himself eventually working as a principal, he said. He said the experience he’s had with the district has prepared him for his new responsibility, but still feels a few small jitters going into the new job.
   "I’ve met some great educators here," he said. "I’ve had the privilege of working in a school building under a principal who I think modeled some good leadership qualities, but also kind of enabled me to further cultivate my leadership skills and I appreciate that. It’s one of those things where you kind of feel a mixture of nervousness and excitement as you make the next move."
   Mr. Daniels said he has two major goals for the year so far, but expects to develop more throughout the year.
   For now, he said he would like to "maintain the focus on student achievement, with a particular emphasis on those students who are academically at risk" and to support and further the school’s professional collaboration.
   "I want to create an environment where we can have opportunities to learn from one another, to lean on our strengths that we have within the building to determine what we’re doing well and to share that," he said.
   With three young children of his own, Mr. Daniels said he loves kids, which has helped him understand why education and a nurturing school environment are so important.
   "I think that school is the place where kids spend a large part of their time and I just want school to be a place where kids truly look forward to going, not just for the social interaction, but also because they feel like a part of the classroom environment and the larger school community," he said.
   To his students, he expects to be a supportive, fatherly figure. Realistically, overseeing what goes on at the school will be a difficult job at times, he said. But he is optimistic and expects a successful year.
   "Obviously, when you have a school building of almost 800 students and over 100 staff members, there will be some obstacles," he said. "I’m confident that we can overcome those obstacles."
   A tightly knit school community is the most effective way to handle any challenges that might present themselves, he said.
   "When we have successes we can celebrate them collectively and when we have adversity, we can try to deal with it collectively," he said. "I just think that’s a realistic way to complete things and I’m confident that it will be successful."