LEA KAHN/STAFF

Princeton Public Schools searching for interim principal for Riverside School

The Princeton Public Schools is searching for an interim principal for the Riverside School, following the transfer of Riverside School Principal Ebony Lattimer to fill an assistant principal post at the Princeton Middle School.

Lattimer, who will be paid $149,650, is moving over to the grades 6-8 middle school July 1. She is filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Princeton Middle School Assistant Principal Timothy Charleston. He accepted a job offer to become a principal in another school district.

Lattimer is the latest in a series of principals at the Riverside School. The principalship was held by the late Bill Circullo for 30 years until his death in 2016.

There have been two acting principals and three principals – including Lattimer – since 2016. Lattimer was named principal in August 2021.

Carol Kelley, the superintendent of schools, acknowledged the turnover in the principal’s office at the Riverside School.

“I realize that many of you have experienced several principals with a variety of leadership styles in recent years. We plan to take time to assess Riverside’s needs,” Kelley wrote to the Riverside School community May 26.

“During that period, Riverside will be in the hands of a highly qualified and capable interim principal. Our goal is to find a principal who will provide stability and leadership for our entire Riverside student, staff and parent community,” she wrote.

In announcing the decision to transfer Lattimer from the Riverside School to the Princeton Middle School, school board president Dafna Kendal said Lattimer has 16 years of experience as a middle school educator.

“With the opening of the (position of) assistant principal at the Princeton Middle School, this was an opportunity to move a seasoned educator into the position,” Kendal said. Currently, there are two assistant principals at the middle school.

Pointing to Lattimer’s experience, Kendal said she will be a “great addition” to the middle school administrative staff and be a great resource for students and their parents.