Hopewell
By: John Tredrea – Staff Writer
David E. Friedrich, once a teacher at Bear Tavern Elementary School, has been hired as the new principal of Hopewell Elementary School.
Mr. Friedrich will replace Christine Laquidara, who was appointed the school district’s director of curriculum and instruction last month.
The Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education voted unanimously in favor of Mr. Friedrich’s appointment Monday night. He will be paid $124,200 for the 2010-11 school year.
Mr. Friedrich, 34 and a resident of Ewing Township, now serves as an assistant principal at Sharon Elementary School in the Robbinsville Public School District. Prior to working in Robbinsville, he worked at Bear Tavern, where he taught first, second and third grades.
According to a message to the Sharon/Windsor community on Sharon Elementary’s website, Mr. Friedrich also has "taught English in both China and Taiwan to children and adults of all ages."
After Ms. Laquidara was appointed to her new post, Assistant Superintendent Richard Lang began the process of looking for a new principal by advertising for applicants. He assembled a search committee, consisting of district parents, teachers and administrators. Over 140 applications were received. The search committee narrowed the field of applicants down to 12 people, who were interviewed by the full committee over two days. Three finalists emerged from the committee interviews.
The finalists then were interviewed by Superintendent Thomas Smith and central office staff in early August. Mr. Friedrich met with the school board’s Personnel Committee after a site visit was made to Sharon Elementary.
"Mr. Friedrich comes with a wealth of curriculum and classroom experience, personal knowledge of Hopewell Valley and a great deal of enthusiasm," Dr. Smith said. "He is familiar with our current initiatives and his experience will assist us in our commitment toward raising our test scores and further challenging our students"
Mr. Friedrich will spend time in the district next week and will begin his full-time position as soon as he is released from his contract in Robbinsville, Dr. Smith said.
The district hopes Mr. Friedrich will be on board by Sept. 1, a spokesman said Wednesday.

