West Milford High's principal will leave post for new job at Fair Lawn

BY PATRICIA KELLER
WEST MILFORD — West Milford High School Principal Paul Gorski resigned Wednesday, March 27, a day after the his formal appointment by the Fair Lawn Board of Education as principal of Fair Lawn High School.
Gorski will finish the school year in West Milford. His new position is effective July 1. The West Milford School District now begins a search for his replacement.
Gorski “accepted an administrative position in another school district, effective July 1,” Gorski announced to high school parents Tuesday, March 27, via a Honeywell Alert System. “I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve the students, parents and staff of the West Milford Public Schools over the course of the last decade. As Principal of the High School, I have stood in awe of the tremendous achievements of our students as they excel in our curricular and extracurricular programs. This is a truly special educational environment, and I have been humbled to be a part of it. I look forward to the last quarter of the school year, and I will work to ensure a smooth transition for the next Principal of West Milford High School.”
Gorski told The Messenger Tuesday that the move was primarily for logistics and location purposes.
He said it has been challenging, especially with late night school events, to get home to spend time with his wife and young children. The new opportunity in Fair Lawn is closer to their home and his family in Oradell.
Gorski said the district is posting his position, and “should have a good amount of time to find a high-quality candidate for the job."
“I expect that the good work that’s going on here will continue," he said. "We’ve been moving so well in the right direction, making progress, and I’m certain that will continue forward for the kids and the community. It’s a school people can really be proud of.”
Gorski gave a decade to West MilfordGorski holds a Master of Education degree from Montclair State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Boston College. He began his career teaching Social Studies at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington where he worked for more than 10 years, from September 1998 to December 2008.
The West Milford School District hired Gorski in December 2008 as the supervisor of Social Studies for the district, K-12, and coordinator/supervisor of district testing.
In September 2011, Gorski was appointed principal of West Milford High School after former high school Principal Maureen Bernstock retired. Gorski beating out 18 other candidates for the job, as was reported at the time. He took the helm as WMHS Principal on Oct. 1, 2011.
In August, 2014, Gorski requested an administrative transfer due to “family reasons,” and was reassigned to the position of interim principal of Marshall Hill Elementary School, filling in for former Principal Michael McCormick, who had taken a medical leave of absence at the time.
Gorski returned to the position principal of the high school one year later on July 1, 2015 at a salary of $136,261.
Fair Lawn BOE hires GorskiGorski attended the Fair Lawn Board of Education meeting on March 26 with his wife and two young children.
Fair Lawn Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ernest Palestis told the board highlights of Gorski’s career experience and his past 10 years as a supervisor and administrator in West Milford.
“We have a principal here who has a very, very, diverse background in technology, character education, advanced placement, and alternatives for kids,” Palestis told the board.
Palestis mentioned the implementation of Advanced Placement Capstone programs, creation of the “Hall of Excellence” recognizing accomplished WMHS alumni, WMHS’s designation as a New Jersey School of Character; and Gorski’s experience with master and alternative scheduling, Rubicon curriculum mapping, management of a school with over 200 staff members, advancement of educational technology for staff and students, and innovative methods of increasing communication with the school community through the use of popular social networking platforms.
“It’s my pleasure to welcome you, and I am certain you will be a fabulous success here at Fair Lawn,” Palestis told Gorski at the public meeting.
Gorski spoke to the Fair Lawn board Monday night after his appointment.
“The true measure of an educational environment is the people,” Gorski said the district’s application and interview process was conducted in a very professional manner from the beginning.
“I felt valued. I felt appreciated. And it speaks volumes to the types of interactions that anyone coming from the outside would have here in Fair Lawn,” he said.
Gorski told the board that the conversations he had with Fair Lawn school board members that evening, showed the “genuine warmth and caring and wanting what’s best for children.”
Gorski said it is an “exciting time” to be a part of the Fair Lawn school district.
Fair Lawn taxpayers reportedly approved a $25 million referendum project recently to expand the district’s two middle schools by the year 2020, to accommodate an anticipated additional 500 students in the district over the next five years.
“I’m very thankful for your support and for your belief in me as an administrator,” Gorski said.
The Fair Lawn Board of Education voted unanimously to approve Gorski as co-principal of Fair Lawn High School effective July 1 and as principal effective August 1 at a salary of $161,900.
Gorski with new opportunityFair Lawn High School is larger than West Milford, with about 1,400 students. Gorski said he expects to see many of the same issues he has seen as an administrator in West Milford.
“You have to do the best you can for the students, staff, parents, and community members," he said. "Not everyone is going to be pleased with every decision you have to make, but you have to keep the bigger picture in mind — what is best for them and the school community as a whole.”
Gorski said the job can be tough, but the good days are really good, special.
He said he has had many special moments at West Milford, such as the “milestone” events that include the annual All-District Arts Festival; outstanding displays of school spirit and good character at school and community events; seeing students excel and achieve special recognitions for their hard work in curricular and extracurricular programs; and proms, and graduation ceremonies in particular.
Search for new principal begins West Milford Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Alex Anemone posted the following message on his “Superintendent’s Blog” on Wednesday, March 27:
“Last night, Paul Gorski, WMHS Principal, was approved as the new Principal of Fair Lawn High School, effective July 1. I would like to thank Mr. Gorski for his dedicated service to our students, our staff, and our community.
"West Milford’s loss is most certainly Fair Lawn’s gain. Under Mr. Gorski’s leadership, WMHS has expanded the quality and quantity of its programs for students, both curricular and co-curricular. Academically, WMHS has experienced a steady rise in student achievement, captured in publications such as NJ Monthly Magazine, where the school’s ranking has risen almost 40 places since 2010!
"WMHS is a New Jersey State School of Character and home to many award winning students and staff. Moving forward, we will advertise for this position and convene a committee of stakeholders to participate in the interview process; our goal is to have a smooth transition. We will continue to update our school community as this unfolds.”
Anemone encouraged members of the school community to contact him with any questions.