Bernards BOE Appoints Newest Liberty Corner Principal

The Bernards Township Board of Education unanimously appointed the principal of the Liberty Corner Elementary School at its April 6 meeting.

James Oliver, assistant principal at the school, was appointed to succeed Dr. Kathleen Pecoraro as principal effective July 1, according to a report from The Bernardsville News. His salary will be determined once a new administrators’ contract is approved.

Pecoraro announced her retirement in February of this year after spending 19 years as the principal of Liberty Corner Elementart School, which has more than 500 students in grades K-5, the report said.

“We had several strong candidates, including from within the district,” Superintendent Nick Markarian said according to the report. “For Jim to shine as well as he did with the things he had to say, I couldn’t be more impressed.”

Oliver thanked the Board of Education and said he is ready for the challenges. “I’m here to work with our families, the board and our staff for our students,” he said according to the report.”I look forward to the challenge.”

Oliver was hired as the assistant principal in 2010, after working as an elementary school teacher in East Brunswick. He lives there with his wife and 2-year-old son, according to the report. He has a doctoral degree from Seton Hall University in education leadership, management and policy.

For more information, visit The Bernardsville News.