Cheryl Cuddihy Appointed Principal of Viola L. Sickles School in Fair Haven

Fair Haven Superintendent of Schools Nelson Ribon has announced the selection of Cheryl Cuddihy, M.Ed, M.A. as Principal of Viola L. Sickles School. Cuddihy's appointment was approved at a scheduled meeting of the Fair Haven Board of Education held at Knollwood School on the evening of June 25, 2014.

"I am very excited to be joining a progressive educational community which embraces the achievement of literacy skills through the workshop model," said Cuddihy. "Residing, parenting, and teaching in Monmouth County allows me to empathize with the experiences and personal concerns of those in the school community and will help pave the way for effective and open communication." 

Cuddihy, who was selected after an extensive search process, plans to become a familiar face at Sickles School well before her official start date of August 1.  

"I am thrilled to welcome Cheryl to our school community," said Ribon. "She possesses tremendous qualities, experience and passion that will have a great impact on the students, staff, and parents at Sickles as well as on our leadership team."

"This search process was truly a community effort -- I thank everyone involved for their input and time over the past two-and-a-half months, and I look forward to a wonderful 2014-15 school year."

A resident of Middletown, Cuddihy most recently served as Vice Principal of Red Bank Primary School, a Title 1 school serving grades Pre K through three with over 600 students and nearly 100 staff members. She simultaneously served as district English Language Learner (ELL) / World Language Supervisor, coordinating programs and assessments for students in grades Pre K through eight. 

Cuddihy participated in Red Bank Borough School District’s Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), regularly collaborating with District administration and staff to set behavioral expectations and create programming. She was also actively involved in the areas of student achievement, research and professional development, curriculum, and community relations. In addition, she was appointed liaison between the District and the Rutgers University Center for Effective School Practices as part of the Formative Assessment in Literacy Grant funded by the NJ Department of Education. 

Prior to joining the Red Bank Borough School district in August 2013, Cuddihy taught Kindergarten, first, second and fourth grade at Leonardo Grade School and Nut Swamp Elementary School in Middletown Township. In 2005, during her first year of teaching at Leonardo Grade School, she was the recipient of the "Teacher of the Year" Award. 

As part of her graduate studies, she served as Administrative Intern for the district from September 2010 through June 2011 while maintaining her teaching responsibilities. She also acted as a Substitute Principal at Leonardo Grade School from September 2011 through June 2013.

Her contributions to the Middletown Township School District included the launch of Reading and Writing Workshops and creation of cross-curricular units as part of the New Jersey-state researched "LEADS" Model (Literacy is Essential to Adolescent Development and Success). She also secured corporate grants to fund science projects, including a yearlong study of Leonardo Beach during which students acted as cartographers, botanists, and meteorologists.

Cuddihy garnered funding for video equipment used in a school television studio and created a popular school-wide student activity designed to improve speech, communications, creativity, teamwork, literacy, and self-esteem.

In 2011 she was the first recipient of the Professor Emeritus Joseph Cino Award for Administrative Leadership, awarded to one graduate student each year by Georgian Court University and the Ocean County Superintendents' Association. 

A former Co-Chair of the Environment Committee of the Middletown Township Strategic Planning Council, Cuddihy worked in the field of Corporate Public Relations before entering the field of education.

Cuddihy received her M.A. in Education: Administration and Leadership from Georgian Court College in 2011, her M.Ed. in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education in 2003, and her B.A. in Communications and French from Douglass College, Rutgers University in 1991.

She is licensed by the State of New Jersey Department of Education as a Principal, School Administrator, Supervisor and Elementary Teacher (K-8).

"As I prepare for the 2014-15 school year, my focus will be on cultivating relationships with staff, students, and families as well as working with the administrative team, teachers, and the Parent Teacher Association to create a shared vision for the school and community," Cuddihy said.

"I am honored to have been selected as the Principal of Viola L. Sickles School."

Viola L. Sickles School, located on Willow Street in Fair Haven, serves approximately 415 students in grades Pre-K through third.