At its November 15 meeting, the Westfield Board of Education approved the appointment of Dr. Jill Sack as Interim Principal of McKinley School, effective January 1 through June 30, 2023. Sack, a retired educator with 37 years of experience, will serve in this 6-month interim position to give the district time to conduct a thorough search in early 2023 for a successor to McKinley Principal Dr. Marc Biunno, whose resignation also was approved at last night’s meeting.
“As interim principal, I intend to provide support and stability to the McKinley school community,” says Sack. “My goal during my time at McKinley is for all students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.”
Sack served 12 years as a middle and elementary school administrator and 22 years as an elementary and middle school teacher. Most recently, she retired in August 2021 as principal of Buzz Aldrin Middle School, a STEM Magnet School in Montclair, New Jersey and has been serving as a University Teacher Mentor at Montclair State University.
Sack holds two advanced degrees from Seton Hall University in Educational Administration and Supervision, a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) and an Education Specialist (Ed.S.). She received a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology from Montclair State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from American University in Washington, D.C., with a minor concentration in Psychology.
“We are very fortunate to have an administrator of Dr. Sack’s caliber available to fill this interim position for the remainder of the school year,” says Superintendent Dr. Raymond González, who also wished Biunno well as he prepares to take on the role of Director of Curriculum and Instruction in another school district. “Dr. Biunno will hold a number of planning sessions with Dr. Sack and feels very confident in her ability to lead McKinley during this period of transition.”
Biunno also has scheduled a series of opportunities for the McKinley school community to meet the new interim principal.
“I am looking forward to getting to know the McKinley students, staff, and families. I want every child to thoroughly enjoy their time in an engaging and nurturing learning environment,” Sack says. “I would love to see students who just can’t wait to get to school each morning.”