The South Orange & Maplewood School District is happy to welcome Frank Sanchez as the new principal of Columbia High School.
After a rigorous, multi-step, and multi-round process which included the input of many stakeholders among them, the Assistant Superintendent for Administration, senior leadership members and a cross-section of stakeholders, including the observing Board’s Personnel Committee Chair, parents, members of the District’s two collective bargaining units (ASCA and SOMEA), CHS administrators who would be working with the appointee, the District’s Assistant Affirmative Action Officer and the Superintendent, Mr. Sanchez emerged as the most qualified candidate to lead CHS.
Mr. Sanchez was appointed and approved by the BOE as the next Principal of Columbia High School on Monday, June 22. Mr. Sanchez served as Interim Principal of Mountain Lakes High School, one of the highest performing high schools in the State, for two years, following his service as district-wide Director of Curriculum for more than seven years and Supervisor of Social Studies for more than three years. Mr. Sanchez also spent nearly ten years as a teacher then Supervisor in neighboring and diverse, Springfield School District. Mr. Sanchez’s time in these districts brings both academic excellence and cultural competence.
It is our hope that the SOMSD community will welcome Mr. Sanchez as CHS and the District navigate not only the immediate course we face during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also the long-term, as we implement the Intentional Integration Initiative at all levels and the expansive facilities plan. Principal Sanchez is set to assume his role on July 1.