New Principal Takes Reins At Kelly School In West Orange

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Longtime educator David Marion has been named the new principal of Kelly Elementary School in West Orange, administrators recently announced.

According to the West Orange Public School District, Marion – a Verona resident – began work in mid-August to prepare for the start of the new school year.

District administrators gave the following background information about the newly named principal:

“Marion worked in the Dover School District for 20 years and served as principal of Academy Street School for the past 12. He received a degree in Marketing at Montclair State University in 1997, an Elementary Education and Teaching degree from Caldwell University in 2002, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration at Centenary College in 2008. He also served as an elementary school teacher and Assistant Principal.”

Marion cited “quality of life” as his primary reason for wanting to make the switch from Dover to West Orange. According to district officials:

“Marion’s oldest son recently married and his youngest is a junior at Verona High School. Over the years, he has coached many of their sports teams, but the lengthy commute back and forth to Dover always posed a challenge. He also wanted to spend more time with his son, friends, family, and enjoy time golfing, paddle boarding, and surfing. Feeling the need for a change, Marion applied for only one position, which was for Kelly Elementary School Principal. During the interview process, he felt it was the perfect fit, and he was ultimately hired.”

"Having grown up in Verona, I am aware of the remarkable reputation West Orange Schools have,” Marion said. “It was this reputation, along with the town's diversity, that interested me in applying for the principalship at Kelly.”

In his attempt to get a running start, Marion recently spent several hours with retired Kelly Elementary principal Joanne Pollara, and the two have already formed a friendship, administrators said.

"We sat down and reviewed all my ideas, and many of hers aligned as well,” Marion said of his new supervisor, calling Pollara “a wealth of knowledge.”

When it comes to his own leadership style, Marion said he’d call it “inclusive.”

“Everyone should have a part and have a say,” Marion said. “I know the buck stops with me, but I want to have everyone's consensus. I'm fair, but you put the children first. I like to lead by example - let me prove it to you."

In addition to meeting with Pollara, former principal Joel Castillo (who transferred to Hazel Elementary), and other staff members, Marion also recently met with Kelly PTA members to plan events, and a School Spirit Committee was formed. Recent improvements have been made to the playground area for the new school year.

This year’s theme at Kelly is “the future is now,” Marion said.

“We have a golden opportunity to create change and build a special community here,” Marion said. “And if my past few weeks here are any indication, we are going to have a great year.”

When asked what kind of legacy he would like to leave, Marion had a simple reply.

“I want to be remembered as someone who cared – kindness is a superpower,” he said. “If a student learns to be kind, we have succeeded.”

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