UPDATED: Lorenz Resigns as RHS Principal; Praises Faculty, RHS Community

After five years as principal of  Jack Lorenz will be resigning at the end of December, the district announced Thursday morning.

An educator for nearly 50 years, the popular principal told staff of the resignation over coffee and donuts Thursday morning, citing a strained relationship with the district's current administration as a primary motivation in leaving. Lorenz's last day will be Dec. 22, he said.

"This was a difficult decision given the working relationship I've had with the faculty, the students and the extraordinary community support I've been given," Lorenz told Patch in an interview Thursday morning. 

"The truth of the matter is my philosophy and my leadership style were not in concert with the expectations of the Ed. Center and as a result my performance evaluations were not what I felt they should be," he remarked. "So you come to a point where you just have to say, 'How much do I want to fight and try to convince people what's right when it's obvious what's right and expend all of that energy?'"

Lorenz  and the school board in recent months, culminating in a scathing letter written by his attorney and obtained by Patch. Dated Aug. 22, the letter demanded the district buy out his contract, which expires at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

In the letter, Lorenz alleged the district had engaged in "a pattern of degradation and belittlement that is not at all appropriate in light of the exemplary manner in which Mr. Lorenz has led the Ridgewood High School as principal."

Superintendent Daniel Fishbein denied the district had not been supportive of Lorenz. "Jack brought new programs and new courses to the high school and to the district," he said. "Without support, things like that wouldn't have occurred."

Fishbein offered only praise to Lorenz on Thursday.

"Jack is a very creative, vert talented and effective administrator," Fishbein said. "He's done excellent work at the high school bringing new programs, new courses in really bringing that community together...He's one of the best principals I've worked with."

Lorenz's wife and two children relocated to Alabama over the summer and Ridgewood will be his last hurrah working in education. His resignation was his own choice and he was not forced, multiple persons with knowledge of the situation said. 

"I've been in very high performing high schools for 45 years but this is the best faculty I've worked with," Lorenz said. He chalked up the great staff to identifying quality educators while making difficult decisions in letting underperforming teachers go.

"If you don't do it, you're negligent in your job as a leader," he said. "If you hire the right way and you know what you're looking for, then I think you will excel as a school."

He said transforming the building's aged facilities – which he said were in "deplorable" condition – to a more modern environment, a focus on curriculum, working on transitioning students from middle school to RHS, as well as the inclusion of new programs were among the biggest accomplishments under his watch.

Lorenz also said weathering the storm of the first two years was also something he's had to overcome in his tenure. Within two days of his hiring in 2005, the previous superintendent resigned. "There was real sporadic leadership," he said of the time period.

In his statement, Fishbein credited Lorenz for integrating key programs at the high school, including the , for which he received an award by the county government.

The school board is expected to approve the resignation at its Monday, Nov. 21 meeting, Fishbein said. It has yet to determine who will fill the interim position of principal or beyond that. Fishbein said someone will be in place before Lorenz departs. 

Lorenz was scheduled to make $176,000 in 2011-2012. His compensation ends Dec. 31.

[Last updated: 7:10 p.m. Thursday.]