HOWELL – Angela O’Cone says she has always had a passion for learning. She has turned that passion into a career and is now serving as the acting vice principal at Howell’s Adelphia School.
O’Cone, 29, holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Fairleigh Dickinson University, a bachelor’s degree in special education from Georgian Court University, and she is certified in school administration.
After graduating from college in May 2001 O’Cone accepted a position in Howell’s Ardena School and taught special education pupils there for two years.
She then moved to theAdelphia School to work as a resource room teacher. A resource room teacher is a special education qualified teacher who works with classified students.
O’Cone eventually applied for the position of acting vice principal when she learned about the opening. She will serve in that capacity until the end of the current school year.
In addition to being the Adelphia School acting vice principal, O’Cone also serves as the Howell K-8 School District’s supervisor for fine arts. She is responsible for the district’s vocal and instrumental music programs.
O’Cone said she wants to continue to build professional relationships and improve communications within the school. She said she is looking forward to handling the challenges the position will bring.
Howell Superintendent of Schools Enid Golden said, “I am hoping to be able to recommend that we make the vice principal’s job a regular position, but as of now it is an acting vice principal. The Board of Education wanted to see what the budget will look like for the next school year before they committed the position to a person.”
Adelphia School PrincipalAlysson Keelen said O’Cone is doing an excellent job in her new position.
“Mrs. O’Cone brings a wealth of knowledge of how students learn. She is an asset to our administrative team. Her transition from teacher to administrator has been seamless. She is in touch with the students, parents and teachers, the whole community,” Keelen said.
“One of the benefits of having a teacher from the classroom move into an administrative position is that she is familiar with the curriculum, she knows the expectations of the district and she implements those ideas on a building level,” Keelen said. “The important part of being a vice principal is knowing the children and having day-to-day contact and Mrs. O’Cone is doing that very well,” Keelen said.
O’Cone, a native of Ocean County, resides in Brick Township with her husband, Dan.