Resignation Of Summit Principal Leaves District Scrambling For Replacement

SUMMIT, NJ — Principal of Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School Dr. Donna Gallo recently sent an email to the school community, announcing her resignation. The announcement comes less than week before the start classes on Sept. 6.

Laurene Callander, the Communications Officer of Summit Public Schools, confirmed that Gallo is resigning from her position, which will be reflected on September 8 Board of Education agenda.

Gallo accepted a Director of Curriculum and Instruction position at Madison Public Schools, however she will remain as principal of the middle school for the next several weeks to support the transition, according to Callander.

According to Tapinto Summit, the district is now looking for a new middle school principal and is seeking input from the staff and parent community.

The district is also hosting a Parent Focus Group at the Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School auditorium on Thursday, Sept. 1. At the meeting, school officials will introduce a survey intended to collect information to assist in identifying the next principal.

The survey will be sent to all parents regardless of their attendance on Thursday.

Gallo was first selected to become principal of the elementary school in September of 2018.

She began her career in the Bridgewater Raritan Regional School District as a Special Education Teacher, with a content specialty in Algebra, teaching all levels of math. Following that, Gallo joined the Millburn Township Public School District as the special education supervisor for grades 6-12, and subsequently became the assistant principal in Millburn High School.

Read more: Summit Selects Middle School Principal

In related school news, Callander told Patch that the district is continuing to follow certain COVID-19 protocols in the upcoming school year while also "striving for as much normalcy" as possible.

Callander said custodians will continue to conduct rigorous cleaning practices throughout all school buildings. Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 are still required to isolate for five days, and wear a mask upon their return on days 6-10, Callander said.

The district is asking parents/guardians to continue to report positive COVID-19 cases through the school's online reporting system.

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