The high school principal and assistant principal will teach classes this fall in addition to their administrative duties.
By: Linda Seida
WEST AMWELL South Hunterdon Regional High School’s principal and assistant principal will return to the classroom this fall, taking on the additional duties of teachers and doing double duty to help keep costs down.
The move was taken as a response to the state’s recent efforts to lower schools’ administrative costs, according to Superintendent Lisa Brady.
Principal Don Woodring and Assistant Principal and Supervisor of Athletics Mike Godown will teach one class each. Mr. Woodring, who holds a bachelor’s of science degree in special education, will teach a special education class. Mr. Godown will teach social studies.
Also this fall, the school will have two new teachers. One will teach math and replace Syrilda Miller, who is retiring. The other new teacher, who will step into a new position, will teach foreign languages. The additional language teacher is necessary because recent changes in state guidelines call for students to have more credits in a foreign language before they can graduate.
Another new hire is needed to replace the school’s guidance director, Bill Panella, who is retiring at the end of June. His replacement will start July 1.
Monday, Ms. Brady said she interviewed "two excellent candidates" for the position of foreign language instructor. In addition, interviews were lined up for "a whole host of excellent candidates for the math position" as well as a candidate for Mr. Panella’s replacement.
Ms. Brady spent numerous hours this week interviewing prospective hires. She said she hoped the Board of Education might hire the new employees during the board’s April meeting.
The new hires will bring the number of foreign language teachers to three. One teaches only French, one teaches only Spanish, and the new teacher will offer instruction in both French and Spanish.
The school will have four math teachers.