WOOLWICH TWP. — Kingsway Regional School District recent announced that Brian Tonelli, middle school assistant principal, will take over as Kingsway Regional Middle School’s new principal.
Tonelli replaces Troy Walton, who was named Superintendent of Schools with the Franklin Township School District last month.
Tonelli joined Kingsway in 2004 as a Middle School Language Arts Teacher and was named Assistant Principal in August 2011. Tonelli was named Teacher of the Year for his work during the 2007-2008 school year.
“Brian Tonelli is an outstanding educator and will be a wonderful principal. He is innovative, hard-working, and has earned the respect of students and staff. I am confident that we advance the middle school under Brian’s leadership,” said Dr. James J. Lavender, Superintendent of Schools.
Filling the assistant principal position vacancy created by the Tonelli naming is Corinne Mesmer. Mesmer has served as an elementary school teacher with the Pittsgrove School District since 2005 and has held several leadership roles while employed.
“I’m excited to have a professional of Corinne Mesmer’s caliber join our middle school team. She brings enthusiasm and ideas to Kingsway and compliments my leadership style,” said Tonelli.
The naming of these two key positions comes just weeks after Kingsway named Lauren Kerr and Jason Hill to the high school’s administrative team as Dean of Students.
“Lauren and Jason are both solid educators who have demonstrated through their work experience that students come first. I am really excited to start this new school year with the two of them assisting me in leading our high school,” said Craig Stephenson, High School Principal.
In July, Kingsway announced its new organizational structure which included the creation of several new curriculum positions.
“Our organizational structure matches the size and scope of our school system and affords us the resources to move the District forward. I am really excited and encouraged to work with our new Chief Academic Officer, Patricia Calandro,” said Lavender. Calandro formerly served as one of the high school assistant principals and spent her teaching career with the Black Horse Pike Regional School District.
“Having someone of Mrs. Calandro’ s caliber allows us to create a regional curriculum office that will provide support to not only Kingsway but South Harrison Twp. and Swedesboro-Woolwich School Districts.
Joining Calandro in the curriculum office is veteran Dr. Jennifer Foley and talented newcomers Stefanie Fox-Manno, Katelyn Skinner, and Rachael Anderson.
“This is a solid team of experts and we are excited to get started. Aligning our curriculum from Kindergarten through Grade 12 is a key priority with the creation of this regional curriculum office,” said Calandro.
Joining Kingsway’s newest administrators during the 2013-14 school year are more than 40 teaching and support staff. “We have had a lot of transition and turnover and I am encouraged by the level of talent Kingsway continues to attract and hire. We had a great hiring season and I am excited to begin working with all of our new educators,” added Lavender.
