She’s like a traveling principal. This past school year, Patricia Hart served as interim principal at Paradise Knoll and Westbrook Elementary School.
Hart grew up in Ridgefield Park, attended Paramus Catholic High School, and has lived in High Crest Lake in West Milford for over 25 years. She has been married to her husband, Dennis, for over 39 years.
“We met in high school, went our separate ways during most of college and then reunited,” said Hart.
They now have two married daughters and three grandchildren.
“Jennifer and Michael have two beautiful sons, Jack and Max, and Nicole and Sean have a beautiful daughter, Bridget.”
Spending time with their family and grandchildren, Hart said, is one of their favorite things to do. She said uniting together with her grown children after a busy week for pizza on Friday nights, while the grandchildren play with “Mi-Mom and Pop-Pop” equates to “Life is Good!”
From childhood experiences comes career decision: To make a difference in the lives of others.
When asked how she decided to enter the field of education, Hart recalled,
“I was the cousin who always played school on Thanksgiving," said Hart. "I had an amazing teacher in third grade, Ms. Titz, who embraced everyone. All student work was hung up, she always had a smile on her face, and she definitely made learning fun. She made it look so easy!”
As she went through her own schooling, she experienced both good and bad teachers.
"I have always wanted to be that person who makes a difference in the lives of others.”
After graduating from Paramus Catholic, Hart earned her bachelor of science degree in elementary education from the College of Steubenville, Ohio, in 1973. Hart decided to continue her education at Caldwell College, earning a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction in 1998 and a master’s degree in educational administration in 2000. Hart said she continuously participates in ongoing training “to keep abreast of best practices” and has professional memberships in several formal educational associations such as the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA), ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development), Morris County Association of Elementary and Middle School Administrators (MCAEMSA), and the Kinnelon Administrative Association.
Hart has taught for over 20 years, and said she had a number of different experiences which have contributed to her strength as an administrator. Her teaching experience includes preschool disability, preschool, junior kindergarten, kindergarten, second grade, fourth grade, sixth, seventh and eighth grade math, science and basic skills, which she said is now called “Encore” in West Milford.
“I absolutely loved being a teacher!”
Hart made the decision to move from teaching to an administrative position when she received “a personal invitation” from her retiring principal. “Sometimes other people see your talents before you do,” she said.
Hart looks at being an administrator as “making a difference for more people, nurturing students, new and seasoned teachers. Parents makes this work very rewarding.”
Hart worked in Kinnelon Public Schools as the principal of the Kiel School, and at William Paterson University as supervisor and seminar instructor. Hart served for a six month term as interim principal of Paradise Knoll Elementary School in West Milford from August through December of 2012. She then went to Westbrook from March through June 2013. She said she had “a wonderful experience” serving as interim principal at PK.
“Together we were able to accomplish so many things. As you know the fall was an eventful time. I do believe communication and collaboration led to trust.”
Prior to her official appointment to the position at Westbrook, Hart said her personal goals for the future include spending more time with her family.
“I look forward to spending more time with my family. I truly treasure the calm, middle of the day time I can spend with my husband, grandchildren, daughters and Mom.” She and her husband are also looking forward to travelling when time allows.
As for professional goals, Hart said supporting student teachers and practicum students from William Paterson University, mentoring new principals, and future interim positions were on the top of her list. “I am happy to help educationally when a need arises,” she said.