Village Resident Thomas Gorman Hired As New RHS Principal

Thomas Gorman, a long-time village resident involved in youth sports, was approved Monday night as the new principal of .

The Board of Education unanimously supported , who has spent the past five years as principal of Westwood Jr./Sr. High School.

"I'm very confident Dr. Gorman is the right person to lead Ridgewood High School," said Fishbein, who made the recommendation with input from constituent committees. 

Gorman, who holds a Doctorate in education from Rutgers University, has 14 years of experience as a teacher and principal.

Gorman will earn $168,000. His contract expires in June 2013.

"I'm honored and privileged," Gorman, who attended the vote, said Monday night, adding he's "looking forward" to working with the RHS and RPS community when he starts on July 1.

"I've lived in the community most of my life," Gorman previously told Patch. "It's an opportunity for me to give back to a community which has given me so much. I'm very excited."

School board members thanked the public for their participation in the process, which began after Jack Lorenz resigned in late 2011.

"The choice was narrowed to a number of highly, highly qualified candidates," Trustee Vince Loncto said. "We were given the benefit of having a choice. It was difficult, as it should be."

Gorman also holds a Masters from Montclair State University and undergraduate degrees from Muhlenberg College.