MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — In a surprising move, Principal Joseph Uglialoro resigned from his position as the chief administrator at South Orange Middle School on June 30. Uglialoro’s reasons for leaving remain unknown and the South Orange-Maplewood School District is not sharing much about the sudden change in leadership.
In a June 30 letter, Uglialoro told the community that he was downcast regarding his career change, though he did not provide a reason for the switch.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to inform you of my resignation as principal of South Orange Middle School,” Uglialoro wrote in the letter. “Since joining the South Orange Middle School faculty in July of 2011, I have been incredibly privileged to work each day with such a thoughtful and caring faculty and staff. During these four years we have partnered in the important, complex and challenging work of increasing access, outcomes and opportunities for all children.
“While there is still a long way to go to ensuring equity and excellence for every middle school child at SOMS, I know that together we have made substantial strides in preparing our students for success in high school and beyond, and in providing them with increased opportunities to develop their talents in the arts, music and technology,” he continued.
While Uglialoro will be leaving the SOMSD Aug. 1, he will not be a man of leisure for long. He will begin Aug. 15 as principal of Frelinghuysen Middle School in Morristown.
“Mr. Uglialoro’s principled leadership, ascending academic achievement results for all students and strong community outreach in a prestigious school district like South Orange-Maplewood were all important factors in the hiring decision,” Mackey Pendergrast, superintendent of schools for the Morris School District, told the News-Record in a July 13 email.
Uglialoro has not responded to requests for comment as to when he decided to leave SOMS or why.
His tenure at SOMS was not without incident.
At multiple Board of Education meetings, SOMS faculty and staff came forward to complain about their treatment by Uglialoro. SOMS teachers alleged that Uglialoro demeaned them, treated them unfairly and often criticized them in an unkind manner. He also came under fire for his strict adherence to the dress code, which led him to send girls home to change clothing.
In November 2013, some parents accused Uglialoro of entering the girls’ locker room while their daughters were changing; two parents filed police reports. The school district denied the allegations and no evidence was found to support the parents’ claims. No criminal charges were ever brought against Uglialoro, but many parents remained concerned following the alleged incident’s resolution.
As for school district administrators’ response to Uglialoro’s resignation, they are keeping mum.
When asked about the change in leadership in early July, Suzanne Turner, the district’s director of strategic communications, only said the district has posted a job listing for the position and will conduct its “usual search process.”
Indeed, the district posted the job opening on its website on July 6, and plans to close the application window Friday, July 17. Among the required qualifications listed in the job posting are: a New Jersey Principal or School Administrator certificate; “successful teaching experience” with middle school administrative experience preferred; leadership skills in curriculum development and program evaluation; interpersonal and collaborative skills; up-to-date knowledge of education research; technological skills; and a commitment to diversity.