RHS Principal Wins Award for Innovative S.A.I.L. Program

Ridgewood High School Principal Jack Lorenz is being recognized by the county for his work in directing and stewarding an innovative program that provides real world training and skills for those with special needs.

According to a release sent out by the county Thursday, Lorenz will be among those recognized by the Bergen County Freeholders on October 28 at its 13th annual "Salute to Champions" gathering.

The S.A.I.L. (Strategic Actions and Innovations) program was developed at the high school as a way provide to provide the skills for students with special needs to become independent thinkers. With just under 20 students enrolled in the program, it blends instruction and curriculum with internships, career coaching, workshops with counselor services and a heavy heaping of technology.

Reached for comment Friday, Lorenz was quick to credit special programs coordinators Pat Staab and Kerry Huntington, as well as transition coordinator Gail Stoughton.

"The S.A.I.L. program has academic rigor and we are preparing our students for a productive and meaningful life. The real success of the program rests with the incredibly talented staff who believe that our students with learning challenges can meet high expectations," Lorenz said. "This is the epitome of teamwork."

Just because the students are faced with challenges doesn't mean they're incapable of accomplishing an incredible amount, Lorenz had .

“A lot of people didn’t think [S.A.I.L. students] could accomplish what they’ve accomplished academically, but they’re taking Spanish, algebra and science and are doing well. They’ve improved dramatically,” Lorenz said. “We have high expectations and hope the same thing will happen in the workplace.

“My hope is that [the students] will be able to access skills that are going to enable them to be in a career path that’s more meaningful than the very mundane paths that sometimes people think is all that they can do,” he said. 

Councilman Paul Aronsohn, who chairs the Ridgewood Community Access Network (CAN) and works closely with Lorenz and Learning Services HSA (LSHSA) chair Ines Bunza to find job placement opportunities for students, was heavy in his praise of the high school principal.

“The S.A.I.L program is a godsend,” Aronsohn said in a statement. “By keeping our special needs students in-district, the program is a win for them, a win for the other students and a win for our entire community."

Added Aronsohn, “Jack’s vision and passion have made it all possible.”

[Editor's note: Updated Saturday, October 8 to include comment from Lorenz. To find out more about the SAIL program, you should absolutely .]