Hopewell Valley Central High School Principal Michael Daher announced Monday he is retiring from his position, effective Dec. 31.
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP - Hopewell Valley Central High School Principal Michael Daher announced Monday he is retiring from his position after a nine-year term, effective Dec. 31.
Hopewell Valley Regional School District Thomas Smith said Daher had desired to retire prior to the 2015-16 school year but with the high school's vice principal retiring in 2014 and another vice principal in the district recently resigning, he was asked to stay.
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Hopewell Valley schools file photo "Mr. Daher intended to resign prior to the start of this school year, however, given the recent transitions at CHS, I asked him to remain until the building was stabilized," Smith wrote Tuesday in a message to the Hopewell Valley Central High School community.
He said the district can now make the transition from losing the high school's principal to hiring a new one possible.
"Mr. Daher is an outstanding principal who has spent the past nine years leading Central High School to great success while always putting students at the forefront of his decisions," Smith said. "We wish him well in the next phase of his life."
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Smith said he recommended Charles Rudnick - former West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South principal who retired in 2010 - to serve as interim principal until a new hire is made.
On March 15 the process will begin to find a new principal, first by recruiting applicants and then by forming a committee in April comprised of parents, staff, faculty and students to help select a candidate, Smith said.
On May 15 a finalist will be recommended to the Board of Education and the new principal will start July 1, Smith said.
He said the district will ensure as smooth a transition as possible.
In Daher's letter to Hopewell Central High School students, faculty, staff and parents on Monday, he thanked the community for their support and praised students on being "bright, high-achieving, respectful and caring."
"I can say without reservation that I have enjoyed coming to work each and every day," Daher wrote. "Having served as principal of the high school will always be very special to me and something I will cherish forever. I know that I am a better person for having worked at Central High School."
Daher was appointed principal of Hopewell Valley Central High School in 2006 and said he spent an additional 40 plus years working as a public school administrator.
Christina Rojas contributed to this report. She may be reached at crojas@njtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
Lindsay Rittenhouse may be reached at lrittenhouse@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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