By ERIN ROLL
roll@montclairlocal.news
Anthony Grosso, who has been at the helm of Glenfield School for four months, has been named as the new administrative leader at the high school.
The announcement was made in an email that Superintendent Kendra Johnson sent to parents Oct. 17.
Edgemont Principal Cheryl Hopper will take Grosso’s place at Glenfield, and MHS Assistant Principal will take Hopper’s place at Edgemont. MHS teacher SallyAnn Howell-Rembert will become the high school’s acting assistant principal.
James Earle stepped down as MHS principal in June after nine years in that role. He moved to West Windsor-Plainsboro School District an assistant superintendent. Terry Trigg-Scales, a former district administrator, has been serving as the interim principal since that time.
The announcement comes four months after the district rotated several principals among the schools in an effort to fill staffing needs.
Grosso had been transferred from Watchung to Glenfield after Joseph Putrino was moved to Renaissance, replacing Edward Wilson. Hillside Assistant Principal Patrick Krenn was moved to Watchung to take Grosso’s place, and special education staffer Thomas Adamo took Krenn’s place at Hillside.
“While we were surprised by the district’s decision to move Mr. Grosso from Glenfield, we have immense respect and trust in his leadership at MHS, and wish him all the best in his new role,” said Corinne Smithen, the president of the Glenfield PTA. “We welcome Cheryl Hopper with open arms and look forward to helping her transition to our middle school. We look forward to meeting with Ms. Hopper and Glenfield’s faculty to identify the best ways to support our school’s initiatives.”
For Edgemont parent Cara Harmon, Hopper’s pending departure from Edgemont was a bittersweet time. “As much as I’m going to miss her, I’m very happy for her,” she said. Hopper’s move to Glenfield was a well-deserved promotion, she added.
“She brings a very positive morale to the school. To the staff, the families, to the students,” said Harmon.
Deborah Guzman Meyer, the president of Edgemont’s PTA, sent an email to the community as well. “Take heart in the fact that all of our great teachers and staff members are here, routines are set, and everyone knows what they are doing. Our children will come to understand that sometimes a good opportunity can cause distress and that you can be happy and sad at the same time,” she wrote.
Grosso sent a letter to Glenfield parents on Sunday expressing his appreciation. “I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for welcoming me into your family and showing me how remarkable Glenfield truly is. The amount of opportunity Glenfield has to offer students is special and unique. I have also grown to see just how amazing the staff is and the dedication and innovation they offer the students everyday,” Grosso wrote. “As I move towards this new opportunity, I look forward to working with the Glenfield community again at the high school level.”
The principal appointments announced on Oct. 17 will officially take effect Nov. 1.
Principal meet and greets:
Jeffrey Freeman: Oct. 25, Edgemont School Multipurpose Room, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Cheryl Hopper: Nov. 1, Glenfield Middle School Library, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Anthony Grosso: Nov. 5, MHS Annex Atrium, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.