Updated: Marshall School Principal Resigns; District Reacts

principal has resigned. She will leave the district on Oct. 1, according to a letter she emailed to Marshall School parents.  She will become Interim Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in Irvington.

Superintendent Brian Osborne said today in a statement:

Dr. Angelica Allen, Principal of Marshall Elementary School, announced today that she has accepted an offer to serve as Interim Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction with the Irvington School District.

In a letter to Marshall families, Dr. Allen stated “I have the deepest respect for the faculty and staff of Marshall School and love spending each school day partnering with them to educate our children. The students at Marshall School are so eager to learn. They are and will all continue to be high achievers in a variety of areas because of their stellar work ethic. Affecting the daily lives of approximately 500 children has been a privilege and a great opportunity for both professional and personal growth.”

Dr. Allen has served as a leader in South Orange Maplewood School District for twelve years, first as Assistant Principal at Clinton Elementary School, and then as Principal of Marshall Elementary School.

Osborne stated,  “Dr. Allen has consistently demonstrated creativity and dedication to meeting the varied needs of all learners throughout her years of service to the district.   In her eleven years as its Principal, she has established Marshall School as a center of excellence in early childhood education.  I know the SOMSD community joins me in thanking Dr. Allen for her years of service, and in wishing her well in her future endeavors.”

Dr. Allen is scheduled to continue as Principal of Marshall School until October 1, 2012, and will help ensure a smooth transition to new leadership.

The text of Allen's letter follows:

Dear Parents & Guardians:

It is with mixed emotions that I have tendered my letter of resignation to Dr. Osborne effective October 1, 2012. I have received an offer to serve as Interim Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in another school district, and after careful consideration, I realize that this opportunity is too exciting for me to decline.

I have the deepest respect for the faculty and staff of Marshall School and love spending each school day partnering with them to educate your children. The students at Marshall School are so eager to learn. They are and will all continue to be high achievers in a variety of areas because of their stellar work ethic. Affecting the daily lives of approximately 500 children has been a privilege and a great opportunity for both professional and personal growth.

As this information comes to you prior to the start of the school year, I ask that you share this communication with your children before the first day of school. Informing your children in a way that is sensitive to their well being is a primary concern that I share with you. With that said, here is the message that I will share with students during the month of September:

“Dr. Allen wrote a letter asking parents to share with their children that she loves helping students learn and grow at Marshall School. During this past summer she  was asked to help many more students in another school district. So, Dr. Allen will go from helping 500 students in one school to helping 7,000 students in 13  schools. Although Dr. Allen will miss every student when she leaves Marshall School, she knows that the next principal will continue to make your school a place  where you love to learn.”

It is my hope that these words provide you with “talking points” that may be helpful as you discuss my departure with your children.
Words cannot express the gratitude that I feel for the support that you have provided to me over the years. My goal has always been to elevate the quality of education for every child at Marshall School by strategically deploying our resources to make the largest educational impact. Your trust has allowed us to exceed all of my expectations, and they are pretty high. I think that we have been successful on numerous fronts and the future for Marshall School remains bright because of your investment and support.

Sincerely,
Angelica Allen, Ed.D.