New Principal Named At Mt. Pleasant School In West Orange

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Mt. Pleasant Elementary School in West Orange has a new principal, and he’s a familiar face in the district.

Marc Lawrence, the assistant principal at Roosevelt Middle School, will take over for recently retired principal Julie DiGiacomo starting on Sept. 1. Lawrence was unanimously approved for the post at the board of education meeting on Monday.

According to a post from district administrators, he brings a wealth of experience to the job:

“[Lawrence] has spent his entire educational career in the West Orange School District, even student teaching at West Orange High School. He received his undergraduate degree from William Paterson University, his Master’s from The College of New Jersey, and his principal certification from Montclair State University. From 2002-2012, he taught social studies at West Orange High School, and when an opening for a Social Studies Supervisor for K-12 opened, Lawrence applied for the job … He served as Supervisor for two years, [until] the Assistant Principal position opened at Roosevelt in 2014 … Along with Principal Lionel Hush, Lawrence spent nine years (2014-2023) at Roosevelt, handling issues like organization, building management and safety, security, discipline, and instructional support and much more.”

“We are excited to welcome Marc as the new principal of Mt. Pleasant Elementary,” Superintendent Hayden Moore said.

“He is an experienced and successful administrator who also possesses the heart of a teacher,” Moore added. “Mt. Pleasant is in good hands with Mr. Lawrence.”

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