A
homecoming for superintendent in Mansfield
Twp.
Warren districts get new chiefs,
principals
Wednesday, September 07, 2005 • BY MIKE FRASSINELLI
• Star-Ledger Staff
She left nearly two decades ago, a
fifth-grade teacher with a dream of someday running her own
school.
Rita Seipp had no way of knowing then
that the dream would lead her back to where she
started.
Yesterday, Seipp was back at the
Mansfield Township School in Warren County as a
superintendent, welcoming students alongside a big green
dragon mascot named Spike and a superintendent's assistant
whose soon-to-be- married son was in Seipp's fifth- grade
class 17 years ago.
The first day of school is always an
adjustment for students. But in two Warren County school
districts, yesterday was an adjustment for administrators,
too.
Both districts -- Mansfield and Allamuchy
-- began the new school year with new superintendent/
principal teams in place.
In addition to Seipp's "Welcome Back,
Kotter" moment in Mansfield, Allamuchy welcomed new
Superintendent Timothy J. Frederiks and new Principal Seth
Cohen.
Mansfield's new principal is Edward Kemp,
formerly a seventh- grade English teacher in Tewksbury,
Hunterdon County.
Despite a 17-year gap, during which she
worked as a principal at the Jefferson Township and
Montville schools in Morris County, Seipp couldn't believe
how similar Mansfield was to the beloved Pre-K to 6 school
she left to pursue her dream of being a
superintendent.
"It was like being in a time warp," she
said. "Nothing had changed."
Even her secretary was a familiar
face.
Kathy Shisler is the mother of one of
Seipp's most responsive fifth-grade students 17 years
earlier, Danny Shisler.
"She was a wonderful parent, and now here
we are, working together for the kids," Seipp said. "That's
pretty cool."
Danny, that fifth-grader from 17 years
ago, is set to get married on Sept. 24. Seipp is attending
the wedding.
Aside from the physical similarities with
the school building and the people inside it, Seipp and Kemp
plan big changes in the curriculum.
Citing a fragmented curriculum and low
standardized test scores, they say there is untapped
potential at the 712-student school.
The new administrators have chosen
American Sign Language as the school's world language. The
school also is changing from a six- day master schedule to a
five-day schedule. A new math program, Scott Foresman
Investigations, is being unveiled.
Students will remain in homeroom until
9:05 a.m. instead of 8:35 a.m., giving the youngsters more
academic time on task, giving homeroom teachers more
ownership over how they start the school day and allowing
students to hit the ground running when they leave
homeroom.
"We're looking to turn the control back
to the professionals," Kemp said.
Seipp and Kemp both vow that they will be
hands-on administrators.
"We're very teacher-friendly and
down-to-earth," said Seipp, who replaced retiring Carol
Burns. "We like to create an environment that is fun and
friendly and pleasant. At the same time, we like to raise
the bar for higher achieving."
In Allamuchy, dozens of computers have
been bought as part of a new technology initiative and the
dormant student government program has been revived to let
students have a greater role in decision-making. More
afterschool programs are being offered, in the hopes that
students of all talent levels will have something to
anticipate. And a schoolwide enrichment program is being
implemented, providing opportunities for students to study
material more in- depth.
Superintendent Frederiks (formerly of
Hopatcong) and Principal Cohen (formerly of Parsippany)
yesterday greeted buses outside and met with the older
students at the Pre-K to 8 school.
Although both administrators were in
place over the summer, it wasn't the same until the building
was filled with youngsters.
"The place cries for kids,' Frederiks
said. "It's really a nice opportunity for both Seth and I to
start off together like that."
Mike Frassinelli covers Warren County. He may be reached
at mfras sinelli@starledger.com or (908) 475-1218
© 2005 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with
permission.
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