In an email letter sent to South Orange Middle School faculty and staff today, Principal Joseph Uglialoro announced that he is resigning.
Mr. Uglialoro (commonly referred to as “Mr. U”) did not explain why he was resigning or where he would be working next. Rather, he expressed his appreciation for the staff and faculty’s support and said he felt that the school community had 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.”
Uglialoro said he would be working at the middle school through August. Uglialoro began working as SOMS Principal in July 2011.
Uglialoro’s tenure had met with some controversy. In 2014, he was accused of entering the girls locker room. An investigation by the NJ Department of Children and Families found that the allegations were false. Recently, the parent of a South Orange Middle School student claimed her daughter has been the victim of repeated harassment by the school’s administration.
Uglialoro also had many supporters. At the June Board of Education meeting, Marietta Zacker spoke on behalf of 100 SOMS parents, saying that Uglialoro had “improved communication, increased parent engagement, and strong programming.”
Village Green has reached out to Uglialoro and the South Orange-Maplewood School District for further comment.
Read the full text of Uglialoro’s email here:
Dear South Orange Middle School Faculty and Staff,
It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to inform you of my resignation as Principal of South Orange Middle School. 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.
I want to express my sincere appreciation for your efforts over the past four years. I value each opportunity I have had to learn with you about how to enhance our work with children, and the professional relationships that have resulted from this work. Each day you challenged me to be my best, and I am a better professional and person as a result. I thank you for that. My hope is that you continue to see learning as your primary responsibility – the learning of your students, as well as your own professional learning. With that clear priority and focus, I know you will continue to change young lives for the better.
I will be at SOMS working on my usual summer responsibilities throughout August. There will be communication to you from our central office administration regarding the search for a new SOMS Principal. As always, please contact me with any questions pertaining to your child and their SOMS program, and enjoy the summer.
Sincerely,
Joe
