Schools

Fort Lee Principals Throw Support Behind Amato for Superintendent

Fort Lee's administrative group publicly gives support to Dr. Sharon Amato, asking Board to appoint her Superintendent of Schools.

Speaking on behalf of Fort Lee's Administrative Group, Fort Lee High School Principal Priscilla Church and School No. 1 Principal Rosemary Giacomelli read a statement to the Board of Education placing unanimous support behind Acting Superintendent Dr. Sharon Amato in consideration for her appointment as Superintendent of Schools.

Before an audience filled with teachers and administrators, Church stressed to the Board that the Fort Lee School district has been in transition since the departures of Dr. Alan Sugarman and Dr. John Richardson. Since they left the district, "Their long tenure in the district and steady course has not been recaptured," Church said. She emphasized that it was their personal investment in the community that provided the district with a feeling of stability.

Like Sugarman and Richardson, Church said that Amato's 27 years in the district would not only provide a seamless transition, but will pick up on the tradition of having someone at the helm who has a long history in the culture of Fort Lee schools. Like Sugarman and Richardson, Amato believes that collaboration with the community and communication with families are essential in making the district successful.

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'Her knowledge of who we are as a district will make the transition seamless and will help us regain our focus -- which is sorely needed," Church told the Board.

The administrative group believes that Amato's experiences as a seasoned administrator enabled her to seize the issues and help them work through the challenges they are now facing. 

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"Dr. Amato was asked to take the helm at a very difficult time for the district and immediately embraced the responsibility and worked hard to help us do the work we do everyday," Church said.

Church said that in Amato's short tenure as assistant superintendent she has worked to ensure that the management of the organization moves forward, that the schools are safe and standardized processes are put in place. According to Church, over the course of the last year, Amato has reached out to a network of community resources to problem solve and has become a viable partner that places the school at the center of the community.

"Dr. Amato is an educational leader who has a vision for learning and wants Fort Lee to achieve greatness," Church said. "She has the trust and mutual respect that is critically needed for the next individual who assumes this position."

 

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