A Few Questions For.. Renaissance Principal Jill Sack

Just this past summer, Renaissance Middle School welcomed Jill Sack, its third principal in three years. And, by the way Sack effuses praise for the 256-student school, it seems she'll be sticking around for awhile.

Sack served as one of Mount Hebron Middle School's most popular teachers for 10 years before being asked to succeed Charles Miller, who was named principal of Glenfield Middle School.

Sack is a Springfield resident with two sons—one in high school and one in college—who also served at Hillside School for 12 years.

When asked what makes Renaissance special, she cited parental involvement among many factors.

"Parents are welcome here. I don't see as many parents in other schools as I do here," she said. "I'm so in awe at the level of volunteerism. Our program here is designed to encourage parents to come in."

Sack said she's also been impressed by the commitment of staff and teachers.

"Sometimes I don't even know when it's lunch because I'll be walking around and I'll see kids eating with teachers and talking and working with them in the classroom," she said. "And both the kids and teachers are enjoying this. The teachers are so invested in the kids here."

When asked what she'd like to change, Sack said she hopes to connect Renaissance students more with students in other districts and even around the world.

"The motto here is to create connections with the community but I think we should step that up and connect with kids around the world," she said. "We can use technology to find out what classrooms are doing in other countries and I'd like to do that."

Renaissance is the smallest of Montclair's three middle schools and also offers an expanded day, which begins at 8:20 a.m. and ends at 4:05 p.m.

But this doesn't mean there are no activities on offer after school.

"We have robotics and drama and we have a new newspaper club this year," Sack said. "I've always been an advocate for a longer school day."

When asked what advice she'd give parents of middle school students, she said that: "You have to understand that the time between 6th grade and 8th grade is a time when kids are really developing in so many ways. And I think parents sometimes can forget how much they are developing.

"They are developing their decision-making skills during this time," she said. "But parents have to also remember that they are sometimes still too young to make reasonable decisions. We need to guide kids and help them as they develop socially and emotionally."

Only a year ago, the school board even toyed with the idea of closing Renaissance during a round of budget cuts. But after a boost in state aid, the board decided against closing any of Montclair's 11 public schools.

And now it seems that Renaissance will only get better.

"I've never been in a place that is so community-minded," Sack said. "People will refer to this as a community and not a school. I love that."

And now, here are five Patch questions for Jill Sack:

Q) What books have made an impact on your life?

A) I've liked a lot of books. When I was younger I loved "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." Then I really loved "To Kill a Mockingbird." "Room" is also a wonderful book as is "The Last Lecture." I like to read books that teach me something.

Q) What are your hobbies?

A) I like baking. I find it very therapeutic. I also like to go out to eat. My younger son plays ice hockey so we watch a lot of his games as well.

Q) What's your favorite TV shows?

A) I like "The Good Wife" and "Criminal Minds" although I don't get the chance to watch a lot of TV.

Q) Where would you most like to go on vacation?

A) I've never been to Italy and I love Italian food so I'd really like to go there. You can see there's a food theme going on here. France is the only place I've been in Europe.

Q) Finally, what motto does Jill Sack live by?

A) The motto I live by is: "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be" by Abraham Lincoln. I've also always agreed with what Jacqueline Kennedy [Onassis] said ... "if you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much."