Devoted West Orange Principal Named New Superintendent: Video

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The search for a new school superintendent in West Orange is over, and the winning candidate was in the district the entire time.

During their meeting on Monday evening, the West Orange Board of Education announced that West Orange High School Principal Hayden Moore will start his new job as superintendent in July 2023 (watch the video below).

Moore will take over for Dr. C. Lauren Schoen, who has served as interim superintendent since she took the reins from Scott Cascone in March. He will serve as assistant superintendent of Schools from Nov. 1 through June 2023 alongside Schoen, who will continue her role as interim superintendent.

The district will begin looking for a new high school principal starting Tuesday, Board President Jennifer Tunnicliffe said.

“I am pleased, proud, and humbled to accept the offer to become the assistant superintendent of schools during this transition,” Moore said.

“I have been honored to serve this community for 26 years, and am excited to continue my service at this next level,” Moore continued. “I must thank Dr. Schoen and the board members for their kind, decent, and supportive postures throughout this process. With the strong support of the community and the Board of Education, we will continue to make the West Orange Schools the very best that they can be.”

Schoen – who will help Moore get up to speed over the next year – said it’s a privilege to continue her role at the head of the district until he takes over.

“I look forward to partnering with Mr. Moore to effectively move our district forward as we open our schools for the 2022-2023 school year,” Schoen said.

“The West Orange Board of Education is committed to ensuring the continued success of our district as we seek to appoint our next permanent superintendent,” Board President Jennifer Tunnicliffe said, adding that the board has officially suspended its superintendent search.

According to the district website, Moore knew from a young age that he wanted to help people. He grew up in Washington Heights and Bergenfield and attended Kean College, garnering his degree in social work and education. After receiving his clinical license and master’s degree in social work at New York University, he went on to obtain his master’s in education with a concentration in special education at Jersey City State University.

To help support himself through college, Moore worked in retail, but also earned money as a popular DJ. He did well enough that he was able to purchase his first house in West Orange in his late twenties.

After his graduation from JCSU, Moore began work as a special education professional at Beadleston Secondary School in Westfield, and he soon became a dean of students. Jerry Tarnoff, then-superintendent of schools in West Orange, asked Moore to consider moving to the district in 1997. His first job in the West Orange Public School District was as a member of the child study team, with a home base at Washington Elementary School. In 2000, Moore was transferred to West Orange High School as a dean of students; he was named principal at West Orange High School in 2012.

Moore was recently honored by the West Orange Scholarship Fund for his “20-plus years of extraordinary public service to the students of West Orange and the community.” Read More: West Orange Schools Honor Devoted Principal With 'Hayden Moore Day'

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