Interim Principal To Be Named, Rally Held Outside Princeton High School

PRINCETON, NJ — Superintendent Carol Kelley said she will be recommending Kathie Foster as the interim principal of Princeton High School during the next Board of Education meeting. Foster will replace Frank Chmiel who was ousted on March 17. More: School District Replaces Principal At Princeton High School

In a letter to the community, Kelley said although change is difficult, staff are working to support students to ensure a seamless transition.

“At the next meeting of the Board of Education, I will recommend that the Board appoint Dr. Kathie Foster as the interim principal of Princeton High School through the remainder of the school year,” Kelley said.

“I am confident that under her leadership, Princeton High School students will continue to thrive.”

Foster is the former superintendent of the Robbinsville Public School District from 2016 to 2020. She also served as the PPS interim assistant superintendent of curriculum & instruction in 2022.

“She was an asset to PPS during that time and she has the advantage of knowing our schools and our district well,” Kelley said.

Prior to serving as the superintendent in Robbinsville, Foster was the assistant superintendent in Robbinsville, and principal of the Pond Road Middle School.

She earned her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, her master’s degree in education administration from Rider University, and her bachelor’s degree from Hope College.

Meanwhile, parents and students held a demonstration outside Princeton High School on Monday afternoon, showing their support for Chmiel.

High School senior Ida Sidik spoke about her personal experience with Chmiel. Sidik told Patch that the decision to oust Chmiel was "poor and rash."

“Chmiel has done nothing but good for students,” Sidik said. “The Board doesn't realize the position they’ve put the future principal in. We would like for Chmiel to come back, if not, we want clarity and honesty from the board.”

Sidik is among the students who started the Change.org petition. As of Monday afternoon, the petition has garnered over 2,300 signatures.

(Editor's Note: The next BOE meeting will be held on March 28. An earlier version of the article said Tuesday, which is the Long-Term Planning Committee meeting)

Here are some more photos from the demonstration: