Bonnie Lehet to oversee curriculum and instruction
Nick Norlen
Staff Writer
The Princeton Regional School District’s new assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction wants to bring consistency — and innovation — to the curriculum.
Bonnie Lehet was appointed to the position by the Princeton Regional Board of Education on July 31, and officially took over the post Aug. 1, replacing Jeffrey Graber, who retired June 30.
She has served as mathematics supervisor in the district since February 2001.
Ms. Lehet was chosen during a four month process from nearly 40 applicants, 95 percent of whom were external candidates, Superintendent Judy Wilson said.
Ms. Lehet is “definitely the best person for the job,” Ms. Wilson said.
”Her strength in mathematics and technology is clearly an advantage, but it’s not the content of her supervisor work that directed the recommendation,” she said. “It’s her overall talents and expertise.”
Ms. Wilson called the position’s area of oversight — curriculum and instruction — a “critical arena” for the district.
”It’s a set of responsibilities of great importance in the district — it is our mission,” she said, noting that the position entails working with professional development, student achievement analysis and addressing achievement gaps, among other things.
Ideally, Ms. Lehet will be able to focus on “maintaining our levels of excellence while looking forward to what the learner of the 21st century really needs in terms of preparation for a highly charged and competitive world,” Ms. Wilson said.
Currently a doctoral candidate in mathematics education at Columbia University’s Teachers College, Ms. Lehet said she believes her background in math and technology will help the district achieve those goals.
”We talk a lot in education about how the world is changing so rapidly. We have to be very proactive for preparing (students) for the world that is ahead of them,” she said, noting that new tools are available to both teachers and students. “These are tools that are not new to kids, and we have to really integrate that into our instruction.”
Ms. Lehet said she will first focus on making sure the curriculum is consistent across the district and across grade levels.
”I’m really excited to be in this new position and see great new possibilities,” she said.

