Parents spoke out against the reassignment of principals at three elementary schools in The Sun’s №2 most read story of 2017.
Editor’s Note: This is part of a countdown of the top 10 most read stories on www.cherryhillsun.com in 2017. To see the full countdown, visit https://cherryhillsun.com/2017-year-in-review/home.
At the May 23 Cherry Hill Board of Education meeting, school administrators made a presentation on Cherry Hill Public Schools 2020: A Clear Vision for the Future. However, it was another item that some community members came to speak out about.
The most read meeting story of 2017 was about a change in principals at the elementary school level in Cherry Hill Public Schools. Stockton, Kilmer and Cooper elementary schools received new principals on July 1.
The district decided to eliminate the director of guidance position for 2017–18 and replace it with an athletic director position. The district’s director of guidance at the time, Jim Riordan, moved to Stockton Elementary School as its new principal. Eloisa DeJesus-Woodruff, Stockton’s former principal, moved to Kilmer Elementary. Kilmer principal Rebecca Tiernan is was moved to Cooper Elementary.
Some parents asked the board not to approve the changes, stating the principals at the time were strong parts of each school’s community. Some community members, such as Fredrick Dande, also wondered why Cooper Elementary’s principal at the time, Patrice Taylor, was not re-assigned.
“To not listen and to take time to think through what you are actually doing, that is not leadership,” Dande said. “That is not putting children first.”
After some discussion, the board of education approved the changes, though board member Ruth Schultz voted no and Edward Wang abstained.
To read the full story, visit https://cherryhillsun.com/multiple-administrative-reassignments-to-take-place-in-cherry-hill-schools-8494502fe159
