Leadership Changes Ahead Of New School Year In Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ — Two schools within the School District of the Chathams will undergo leadership changes ahead of the 2023-24 school year.

Both Milton Avenue School and Chatham Middle School will have new principals after two resignations were presented to the board of education this spring.

At the Monday, June 5 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Michael LaSusa gave a personnel update, discussing that current principal Jill Gihorski announced her resignation from the district.

Gihorski, who worked as the principal of Chatham Middle School for the past 10 years, announced her retirement earlier in 2023, officials said.

Since then, a search for her replacement has gone underway, with Tony Orsini, the current principal at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in the Ridgewood Public Schools District, ultimately being appointed by the board.

Orsini has had more than 20 years of administrative experience at the middle school level, most of which has been serving as a principal, LaSusa stated when announcing his appointment.

"I'm looking forward to getting to know all of the students, faculty, staff and community members of Chatham Middle School," Orsini stated.

Chatham Middle School currently serves approximately 984 students in grades 6–8 and has a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1, according to recent statistics from U.S. News & World Report.

One month after Orsini's announcement, the board also disclosed that next year, Milton Avenue School will have new leadership after current principal Nicholas Andreazza submitted his resignation to the district.

Andreazza had been the principal of Milton Avenue since the 2015–2016 school year.

Assistant Superintendent Mary Donohue stated that Kristen Crawford, the district's science supervisor, was chosen as Andreazza's replacement after consideration from LaSusa and the rest of the administrative team.

The Chatham Board of Education's President, Jill Critchley Weber, expressed her support for the decision, praising Crawford's enthusiasm for education and science.

Milton Avenue School currently serves approximately 284 students in grades PK–3 and has a student-teacher ratio of 1–13, which is higher than that of other schools in the district, according to statistics by U.S. News & World Report.

"I am really excited for this role; I am enthusiastic about my job; I'm enthusiastic about education; and I'm really looking forward to being a part of the education journey for all the students at Milton Avenue School," Crawford said.