MMS Assistant Principal Marc Gold
Marc Gold, who began work “straight out of college” as a special education teacher at Maplewood Middle School in 2009 and then took on the role of Assistant Principal a few years later, announced today in a letter to the MMS community that he is leaving the district.
Gold wrote warmly of the Maplewood community in his letter (read it in full below), stating that it was “with considerable reflection and a heavy heart that I am announcing that I am leaving the wonderful South Orange and Maplewood School District.”
In a separate letter from Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Ramos, Ramos shared that Gold “has accepted a position in another district.” Gold is leaving to take the position of assistant principal at Frelinghuysen Middle School in Morristown, as reported by Maplewoodian.com. Gold’s position was approved by the Morrstown School Board on Monday night.
Former South Orange Middle School Principal Joseph Uglialoro left the South Orange-Maplewood School District to take the position of Principal at Frelinghuysen Middle School last year.
Ramos also commended Gold as “an up and coming educator with a bright future as evidenced by his work here in SOMSD. We wish him the best in his decision.”
Ramos reported that “Gold will stay with us through mid-September to help with a smooth opening of school.” Ramos announced last week that MMS’s other assistant principal Louis Brown would take over as interim principal while the district searches for a replacement for Jerrill Adams, who resigned as MMS principal in June.
Seemingly anticipating the unease of the MMS community with the loss of its principal and an assistant principal simultaneously, as well as the large number of administrative resignations throughout the district, Ramos added, “Times of transition can be unsettling. We will provide additional support during these next few months to ensure that MMS provides a warm, collaborative, and inspiring learning environment for all students and staff.” (Ramos’ letter is attached below.)
Gold joins ten other administrative personnel who have resigned or retired from the district this year, including:
- Mara Rubin, Director of Fine Arts K-12;
- Janine Gregory, English Language Arts Supervisor Grades 9-12;
- Candice Beattys, Math Supervisor 9-12;
- Judith Hanratty, ELA Supervisor K-8;
- Alan Levin, Science Supervisor 9-12
- Robert Schmidt, Supervisor of Special Services 6-12
- Mark Quiles, Seth Boyden Elementary School Principal
- Jerrill Adams, Maplewood Middle School Principal
- Jennifer Giordano, Director of Guidance
- Phil Stern, In-House Counsel
Read Gold’s letter here:
Dear Maplewood Middle School Community Members and Students:
In 2009, I was given the privilege of being selected as a special education teacher at Maplewood Middle School. I was straight out of college and I was so excited to get a chance to start my career in education. At the time, I did not know what a supportive, dedicated, passionate, diverse, forward-thinking and kind-hearted community I was stepping into. I have found out that Maplewood is truly a community of collaboration and I am so proud that I have been able to be involved in that partnership for the past seven years. It is with considerable reflection and a heavy heart that I am announcing that I am leaving the wonderful South Orange and Maplewood School District.
I would like to thank all of the community members that I have been involved with during my tenure at MMS. From all of the collaboration with our amazing HSA (Co-Presidents Kathleen Bailie and Alan Stephenson and all of the HSA representatives), Footprints program, Future Leaders, PBIS Committee Members, Model UN (thank you to all of the parents who volunteered and woke up at 4:00 a.m., on the weekend, to provide our students with these wonderful experiences), MMS Garden Committee, Strategic Direction Committee, Action Planning Committee, Odyssey of the Mind, Boy’s/Girl’s Night Out volunteers/donors, to the numerous interactions that I have enjoyed on a daily basis with countless community members, I would personally like to thank you for always being there for our students during this vital time of social, emotional, physical and educational growth.
To the students, it has been an honor to serve you as a special education teacher and as an assistant principal for the past seven years. I would like to express my profound and genuine appreciation for all that you have taught me. Each and every day you have provided me with insight and inspiration to improve my craft and I truly thank you for that. I ask that as you move through your lives, you put forth the effort to build positive relationships and make decisions that will better yourselves and others around you. I hope that you are fortunate to identify a passion and if so, I encourage you to pursue your passion. Lastly, please ensure that you treat others with respect and as you would like to be treated. I believe if you are always interacting with positive energy, you will find that the majority of your experiences will be joyful.
I am indebted to Maplewood Middle School and the SOMSD community for providing me with the ability to grow professionally and, more importantly, as an individual.
Sincerely,
Marc G. Gold, M.Ed.
Assistant Principal
Maplewood Middle School
