RED BANK – The search for a middle school principal to replace the former school headwho resigned amid controversy is under way at the Red Bank Middle School on BranchAvenue.
The successful candidate should possess administrative experience and a record of successful leadership, said Red Bank Public Schools Superintendent Laura C.Morana.
Morana announced June 12 that she hopes responses from a newspaper ad will garner qualified candidates to fill the position vacated by former Principal Terrance Wilkins.
“One of the key things that the adwill say is that not only do we want the person … to be certified, as he or she has to be, but also to have administrative experience. I don’t say principal experience. You could be a supervisor who has had experience; therefore, you can move into the principalship if the [steering] committee deems that you are qualified,” saidMorana.
Wilkins, who held the position of principal at the middle school for the past four years, resigned his position May 1 after he was arraigned on charges that he arranged to have his leased vehicle set on fire in 2006.
The Red Bank Board of Education (BOE) acted on the recommendation to accept Wilkins’ resignation, which will not take effect until June 30, at a special executive session meetingMay 5.
Wilkins’ salary is $112,096 a year, said school district BusinessAdministratorAnnie Darrow.
Morana said a steering committee made up of teachers from all grade levels and subject backgrounds as well as parents and administratorswill have a hand in the principal selection process.
“It will be an extensive interview process including writing tasks as well. The candidates will go through a set of questions for them to respond…[so] we are able to assess not only their writing skills but also their communication skills in general and technology [skills],” Morana said of the process potential principal candidates will experience.
Supervisor of Bilingual, ESL and World LanguageMaria Iozzi has been acting as the administrator in charge of the middle school and will continue in that position for the remainder of the school year.
“We’re just beginning the screening [process] and just posting the position so if that’s not the case [that the position is filled by the start of the school year], then we will make other arrangements withMaria [Iozzi] continuing where she is,” said Morana. “We’re fortunate to have her there and everyone has come through in supporting what needed to be donewith her responsibilities as well as a bilingual ESL supervisor.”
Although Morana said she will be prepared to keep the interim principal in place throughout the start of the school year so as not to rush the selection process, the goal of the steering committee is to have the position filled by the start of the new school year.
Morana said assessments would give the committee a sense of how potential candidates would approach simple tasks that they may be faced with on a daily basis if they were to be chosen for the principal position.
“The expectation is that the committee will select three candidates that they feel are just as equally competent … so that any of these three [would be] just perfect for our school. Then I would meet with those candidates … and that would be a very extensive interview. Hopefully the process will be one that is pretty efficiently handled and thenwe will have one candidate that would be recommended to the BOE for its approval,” said Morana, adding that she anticipates a pool of candidates to choose from.
Although theremay be awide array of applicants, Morana said her number one goal would be to hire someone from within the school system, like Iozzi if she were to apply.
Other characteristics a successful candidate should possess include a thorough knowledge of leadership practices, strong interpersonal skills, collaborative leadership style, excellent communication skills and the ability to motivate, lead and inspire, said Morana.
“We want to make sure we do the right thing, we don’t want to miss any steps and we want to have everyone involved so it’s going to be a big collaborative community event in a way,” she said.
Morana added, “We’re hoping that just those very interested, those clearlymotivated people who will learn a great deal about the district, are the ones who will actually apply to the district.”