James Corino (l.) Shauna DeMarco (r.)
LYNDHURST –
James Corino spent his first 25 years as an educator in the Lyndhurst public schools and, starting July 1, he’ll be coming home.
Corino was appointed interim superintendent of schools by the Lyndhurst Board of Education May 18 at an annual salary of $157,500 for a two-year term.
He replaces Tracey Marinelli, who resigned April 30, with three years to run in her contract as the district’s chief school administrator, to take over as head of the Little Falls public schools.
Corino was selected from among several candidates screened by MJO Enterprises, a Westwood consultant hired by the board for $6,000 to conduct a search for Marinelli’s replacement. Corino told The Observer he is resigning his current job with Seton Hall University as director of the M.A. and Ed.S. Programs in Educational Leadership, Management & Social Policy, effective June 30, but will continue as an adjunct instructor.
In another administrative move, the board has named Lyndhurst High School Principal Shauna DeMarco as assistant superintendent of schools, replacing interim assistant superintendent Jeffrey Feifer on July 1, at a salary to be negotiated for her dual role.
DeMarco, who was valedictorian of the Class of 1992, at Seton Hall University, where she earned a degree in English and Elementary Education, has a master’s in English and in Educational Administration and Supervision, both from Montclair State University. The lifelong Lyndhurst resident began her career as an educator in 1992 in the West Orange public schools before moving to the Lyndhurst district in 2005. She taught Middle School language arts, high school English and A.P. courses before serving as principal of Washington Elementary School for a year before being named high school principal in 2014.
Three vacancies still to be filled by the board are district supervisor of special services, district supervisor of math and district supervisor of remedial instruction and performing arts.
Action may be taken at the June 24 board meeting.
A 38-year educator, Corino began his career with the Lyndhurst district in 1970 as a teacher and between then and 1995, served as athletic director, basketball and football coach, assistant principal and principal of Lyndhurst High.
After that, he served 10 years with the South Orange-Maplewood public schools as a principal and assistant superintendent before moving on to Seton Hall where he has worked the past eight years.
Corino also spent time as director of Teach for America, an alternate route professional development and training program for provisional teacher certification. And, for the past year and a half, he has mentored principals in Lyndhurst.
For his next two years in Lyndhurst, Corino said he will be “looking to maintain and improve upon the overall climate and culture of the district by working collaboratively with all of the community stakeholders.”
Corino said he would conduct a “needs assessment” of the district and “work on team building, consensus building, setting high standards for ourselves to assess and develop appropriate plans to improve our district” and formulate, with other stakeholders, a “common shared vision for the entire school community.”
Part of that effort, he said, will include working with a joint township/school redevelopment committee for a new middle school project at Matera Field and in support of a November school referendum “focused on improving school facilities and providing our children with the best resources possible so they can reach their potential as they move throughout educational system and out into college and the work force.”
To that end, Corino said that he will be “one of many leaders working in committed fashion to communicate the merits of [the referendum] proposal.”
“As we move forward with the planning and redevelopment stages and educational specifications, I plan to keep the community informed through timely and effective communications.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to do great things as we move forward into the 21st century,” he said.
