LAWRENCE: New vice principal chosen for LHS

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Shin-Heh Fay Lopez, who teaches English at Highland Regional High School in Blackwood, has been chosen to replace Alyson Fischer as one of the three assistant vice principals at Lawrence High School, effective Jan. 12.
The vacancy in the assistant principal’s post was created when Ms. Fischer was selected to replace Kenneth Mason as the Lawrence Township public school district’s director of health, physical education and athletics. Mr. Mason is retiring at the end of this month.
Ms. Lopez will earn $85,000, which has been pro-rated to $50,575 for the 2014-15 school year.
Ms. Lopez earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Bryn Mawr College, and a master’s degree in school administration from Rowan University. She has taught English at Moorestown High School, Rancocas Valley Regional High School, Highland Regional High School, as well as Southern Regional Middle School.
The veteran teacher said that initially, she had no plans to move from the classroom into the administrative wing of a school. She said that while she loved teaching and was "perfectly content in the classroom," she began to realize that she was ready for new challenges.
"I felt I had the skills, experience and temperament to be a good school leader," Ms. Lopez said. "Assistant principals deal directly with students, and I knew I wanted to continue working with young people and have a positive influence on their lives."
Ms. Lopez said she thrilled and excited when she learned that she would be joining the administrative team at Lawrence High School.