New Princeton High School Principal Appointed

PRINCETON, NJ — Jessica Baxter has been appointed as the next principal of Princeton High School.

The Princeton Public Schools Board of Education appointed Baxter, who is currently serving as PHS’s assistant principal, at its Tuesday night meeting.

Baxter will take over in her new role when current principal Gary Snyder retires at the end of the school year.

"Jessica has shown her ability in nearly eight years as an assistant principal to care deeply about our students, to effectively lead high-level change, and to get things done on a daily basis," said Superintendent Steve Cochrane.

Along with serving as PHS assistant principal, Baxter is the district anti-bullying coordinator and president of the Princeton Administrators Association. She was the lead in implementing the Challenge Success student-engagement survey at the high school as well as in analyzing and presenting the results. She co-chaired a committee that recently recommended a later start time and a new bell schedule at PHS, and she is responsible for developing the school’s master schedule each year.

Baxter holds an M.A. in Educational Leadership from the College of Saint Elizabeth and an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from Montclair State University, where she earned a B.A. in Spanish Education. She is fluent in Spanish, and, prior to joining PHS in 2012, she was a Spanish and ESL teacher at Hanover Park High School.

"Having been named PHS principal is one of the greatest honors I have been bestowed, and I take the responsibility seriously and enthusiastically," said Baxter. "I'm excited to work on initiatives with Mr. Cochrane and the PHS faculty as we continue our work of building and maintaining a healthy, inclusive and strong PHS."

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