A Look at the Leadership Changes in Lawrence Schools

With the 2011-2012 academic year now well underway, and the , it might be helpful to review the many leadership changes that have taken place in recent months within the Lawrence Township school district.

As has been already been reported here on Lawrenceville Patch, former took over as superintendent on Sept. 1 following , who served 5½ years as superintendent. Lovell joined the Lawrence Township district in 2005 when she was hired as assistant superintendent.

Following the unanimous approval of school board members at their meeting Monday night, , a position that was created by the board Monday to replace the assistant superintendent’s post left vacant by Lovell’s move to superintendent. The responsibilities of the position of director of instructional services mirror those of assistant superintendent.

Up until yesterday (Sept. 13), Zuckerman was principal at Lawrence Middle School. Assistant Principal Mindy Milavsky has moved up to serve as acting principal of the middle school. She will continue to serve in that capacity – aided by a “support team” of faculty – until the school board selects a permanent principal is to replace Zuckerman.   

Along with the launch of the , another big change at the high school is the division of grades into an Upper School (Grades 11-12) and a Lower School (Grades 9-10).

Jonathan Dauber, previously principal at Lawrence Intermediate School, is the new principal of the Upper School. Clifford Williams was to serve as assistant principal of the Upper School. Dauber has been with been with the district for six years and was originally hired as assistant principal at the high school.

David Roman, who last year served as principal of the full high school, is now principal of the Lower School at LHS. Dave Milinowicz is the Lower School’s assistant principal.

David Adam is the new principal at Lawrence Intermediate School, replacing Dauber. Adam was the assistant principal at LIS last year, and previously was assistant principal at the high school. Adam has been with the district for four years.

Taking on the duties of assistant principal at LIS is Cynthia Westhead. She is a familiar face to many Lawrence students as she has been a physical education teacher in the district for the past 20 years.

Jay Billy, who has been with the district for five years and was previously supervisor of student services Kindergarten-Grade 5, is the new principal at Slackwood Elementary School, taking over from .

Changes have been made in all three top leadership positions for the district’s special education services.

Erin Servillo is now interim director of student services, replacing Kris Deni who retired from the position Feb. 1.

Servillo previously worked as the district’s supervisor of student services Grade 6-Graduation. Carol Webb was hired in July to take on that post.

Pam Hernandez, who has worked in the district for 13 years and was last year a learning disabilities teacher at Ben Franklin Elementary School, has replaced Billy as the supervisor of student services Kindergarten-Grade 5.

And there have been changes in the leadership of two of the three career academies at Lawrence High School.

Matthew Davis is the new leader of the Academy of Science and Technology, replacing Chiara Shah, while Jennifer Minaya-Henriquez has replaced Jeff Rick as leader of the Academy of Business and International Studies.

Jill Vaughn remains the leader of the Academy of Arts and Humanities.