Four Principals in 5 Years Worries Some at Central Elementary

A carousel of job swapping around the Haddonfield school district has some staff members worried.

The announced three promotions this week that have three veteran district educators changing jobs.

Chuck Klaus will leave the after one year as principal  to become the new principal of . He replaces Mike Wilson, who will become an assistant superintendent. Shannon Simkiss, the current dean of students at the high school, will replace Klaus at Central.

Board members said promoting within the district placed veteran staffers in new jobs. But a teacher at Central School expressed a concern that may resonate with Central School staff and parents.

“Central has had four principals in the last five years," teacher Jennifer Gallogly told the board during a meeting this week. "A school cannot run itself. I’m not sure you are aware how hard this is on us.”

Gallogly asked that the board make Central School a priority and added that more constant administration was important.

“We deserve that,” she said.

Board member Joe Erhardt tried to address her concern.

“We hired someone we believe will do an outstanding job there,” he said.

“We are often criticized for not promoting from within. Both of these transfers are promotions from within,” board President Steve Weinstein added.

Simkus has been in the district for seven years, the last two as the dean of students at the high school.

She has a master's degree in education from Drexel University and a bachelor's in education from LaSalle University. Her new salary is $105,000.

Klaus has 23 years of teaching experience and has served the school district for 15 years as a high school English teacher, two years as the high school assistant principal for teaching and learning, and for the past year as Central Elementary principal.

He has a master's degree in educational leadership from Wilmington University and a bachelor's in education from Boston University. He will make $124,000 as the high school principal.

Wilson, whose background was not immediately available, will make $144,000 as the assistant superintendent.

The flurry of moves was spurred by the pending retirement of Assistant Superintendent Dyanne Kerecman at the end of the school year.