Berkeley Board Of Ed Picks Two New Principals

Staff members of both the Bayville and Berkeley Township elementary schools turned out in force at a recent special meeting to show their support for the district's two new principals.

Board of Education members voted unanimously to appoint Mary Guinan principal of the Bayville Elementary School and Kirk Burr principal of the Berkeley Township Elementary School.

Guinan - a longtime educator - started in the district in 2006 and served as supervisor of instruction and Camp Paw director. In 2009 she was the administrator in charge of the Bayville Schol and assistant principal. She was named acting principal of the Berkeley Township Elementary School earlier this year.

"Thank you for your confidence in me," she told the board at the July 26 meeting. "I thank the staff for coming to show their support. It means a lot to me."

After serving as acting or assistant principal at two of the district's elementary schools, Guinan quipped that she had been "always a bridesmaid, never a bride."

"Tonight I feel like a bride," she said.

Burr - who was named 2012 Teacher of the Year at the Berkeley Township Elementary School - has been with the district for 13 years.

"I've been with the building since its conception," he told the board. "I truly do feel like I'm a part of this community here."

"Congratulations to Kirk and Mary," Superintendent James Roselli said.

"We know you will do a good job," Board President Stephen J. Pellecchia said.

Burr, who replaces Roselli as the BTES principal, begins on August 1. Guinan starts on Sept. 1

Each will be paid $105,000 a year - Step 1 of the principal's guide, according to the meeting agenda.