Hartshorn Teacher to Become Principal in Glen Rock

The community in Glen Rock is hoping the board's new principal hire on Monday night of top administrators at the S. Maple Ave. elementary school.

The school board unanimously approved the hire of Krista Lee LaCroix, currently a supervisor of instruction at Hartshorn Elementary School in Millburn.

Hartshorn principal Ron Castaldo, who is retiring this year from Hartshorn, said he is proud of LaCroix.

"She has the knowledge, skills and experience to be an outstanding principal," he said. "Everything she has accomplished at Hartshorn has prepared her to be a great principal. She has the full support and love from everyone at Hartshorn."

Castaldo will be replaced by Kenneth Frattini, who currently is a vice principal at Millburn Middle School.

LaCroix has been a long-term faculty member of Hartshorn, with eleven years at the school. In her new job in Glen Rock, she will be paid $117,992 and will start on July 1, 2012, said Glen Rock school board president Rona McNabola.

"The first thing of course that struck is us someone with long-term goals," McNabola said. "She worked with the principal in her building and was the supervisor for math though her background is in language arts."

LaCroix , who was the fourth principal in five years at Central.

LaCroix was the leading candidate in the screening committees, which comprise of administrators and representatives of the HSA. She was the only candidate interviewed by the school board.

"She's had a lot of the responsibilities a principal has, so it didn't bother us she isn't a sitting principal," McNabola said of LaCroix. "We all do feel she has fantastic potential to be a successful principal in Glen Rock."

Although she's not necessarily confident LaCroix will be at Central School for a long time, McNabola remains hopeful.

"You always just have to feel that you're hiring the best person for the job in the hope it's a long-term relationship," she said.

McNabola said LaCroix will be familiarizing herself with district staff before taking over as principal on July 1.