Hispanic Appointed Paterson Principal

Educator oversees bilingual program

PATERSON—A Hispanic woman with nearly two decades of service to the school district has been appointed acting principal of School 3, which has had high turnover in its top post.

Grisell Hernandez, supervisor of bilingual education and English as a second language, assumed the post Thursday and will continue through June 30.

The Main Street school has had three principals and a number of substitute and acting principals since 1989. The district was taken over by the state in 1991, prompting the movement of administrators at many schools districtwide.

Hernandez began her career as a bilingual education teacher at School 3, a position she held for about 12 years.

“I hold a special place in my heart for School 3 and its fantastic staff and students,” said Hernandez, a Parsippany resident. “I am very pleased about this appointment and will strive to work with our school community, our staff, students, and parents, to maintain and improve the educational quality of School 3 programs.”

Hernandez, a trustee of the Hispanic Women’s Task Force of New Jersey, said she feels “exceptionally qualified” to meet the needs of the school’s Hispanic population. About 88 percent of the 500 students are Hispanic.

Fifth Ward Councilwoman Maria Magda, although pleased with Hernandez’s qualifications, stopped short of giving full approval to the appointment by state Superintendent Laval S. Wilson.

Magda has previously expressed concern about problems at School 3, and has wanted to meet with Wilson.

“She’s well-qualified, she deserves to be promoted, I don’t take anything away from her,” Magda said. “But I think there are other people with the same credentials and even more who live in Paterson… who pay taxes here.

“But they don’t care about that. They themselves are not part of the community,” Magda added, referring to Wilson and members of his staff.

However, the councilwoman was pleased to see a Hispanic as principal.

“I think it’s about time,” she said.

The top administrative post at School 3 has been a revolving door since 1989, when a longtime principal left on medical leave and never returned. After several acting administrators and the state takeover, Kayte Monroe was appointed acting principal for the 1991-92 school year.

Monroe had lost her post as director of personnel in the state takeover.

This school year, James Bradshaw was moved from principal of School 12 to School 3. School 12 was one of four district schools rated below average in a districtwide evaluation, and was the only school where Wilson reassigned all of the staff, from custodians to administrators.

Bradshaw has been on medical leave since December. Several administrators have been pinch hitting at the school since his departure.

Hernandez said she met with two parent representatives Wednesday and will hold a parent meeting at 9 a.m. Monday in the school gymnasium.



Comments are closed.