Kollar named new high school principal
SOUTH COVENTRY » Nearly a year after the principal of Owen J. Roberts High School departed under contentious circumstances, the school board has chosen his replacement.
In the wake of a unanimous vote on April 19, the school district has announced the appointment of Steven Kollar as the new principal, effective on June 28.
The search process began in February and yielded many qualified candidates. Students, teachers, parents and school board members were involved in the final selection for the position, according to a release issued by the district.
Kollar has been working at Owen J. High School in the role of interim assistant principal since Nov. 30, 2020. The role of interim principal has been filled by William Richardson.
Kollar has 17 years of experience working in public education, 12 of which have been as an administrator.
After graduating from Boston College in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, Kollar taught chemistry at Martin Luther King High School, then worked as assistant principal, then principal at Mastery Schools — Lenfest Campus until 2016, earning a master’s of education degree at the University of Pennsylvania at that time.
He relocated temporarily with his wife to Spokane, Wash., where he pursued consulting work developing math and science curriculum and assessments.
“During that time, he missed working directly with students so he returned to the school setting as assistant principal at Glover Middle School until his family returned to this area,” according to the release.
The Kollar family, including his wife and 1-year-old son, have purchased a home in the area.
“My experience at Owen
J. Roberts has been welcoming and I am excited to continue to build relationships so that I may be an effective support to the community,” Kollar said in the district release.
The post Kollar is filling was previously held by Ken Napaver for less than two years.
Last June, Napaver confirmed in social media posts that he had been given a choice by OJR Superintendent Susan Lloyd to resign or take a demotion.
However, he subsequently rescinded his resignation after a groundswell of community support for keeping him surfaced
A community petition to keep Napaver was unsuccessful.