Steinert getting fourth new principal in 4 years
HAMILTON >> Leadership instability at Steinert High School will continue as the Hamilton Township Board of Education will have to soon appoint another new principal there for the fourth time in four years.
Dr. James Fazzone, who became Steinert’s principal eight months ago with longterm ambitions, is now preparing to step down from the position effective July 1 to reenter retirement.
Previously retiring from the district in 2004, Fazzone Steinert High School in Hamilton Township
came out of early retirement last August to replace former Steinert principal Nathan “Nate” Webber, who became the district’s secondary education director last summer.
Webber served for only one year as Steinert’s principal from July 2015 through June 2016. He replaced former principal Frank Ingargiola,
who lost his job because too many school board members lost confidence in his leadership and declined to reappoint him.
Ingargiola served as Steinert’s principal for about two years from Aug. 15, 2013, through June 30, 2015. He replaced former principal Kelly Mattis, who left Steinert to become principal of Hamilton High School West effective July 1, 2013, and then she left the district later that year to serve at the human resources director of the Montgomery Township School District.
The quick turnover of leadership at Steinert High School began with the departure of Mattis, who had served as the school’s principal in interim and permanent capacities for about six years from Oct. 1, 2007, till summer 2013.
The principal who preceded Mattis was Michael Gilbert, who held down the position for nine years from September 1998 until he accepted an appointment to serve as the Hamilton Township School District’s director of secondary education in fall 2007.
Departing Steinert Principal James Fazzone previously served as a twoterm mayor of Burlington City from January 2008 through December 2015. His forthcoming retirement was listed on the Hamilton Township school board’s April meeting agenda. The school board Wednesday was expected to approve the retirement.
When Dr. Scott Rocco takes over as Hamilton’s superintendent of schools effective May 8, he will be expected to quickly recommend a qualified leader for the school board to appoint as Steinert’s next principal.