Same Faces, Different Places Four of Clifton’s five new school principals aren’t new at all
Name: Luca Puzzo New Job: School 1 Principal 158 Park Slope Old Job: School 4 Principal Bio: Puzzo was the principal at School 4 for 12 years and the first assistant principal there for two. Before that, he taught social studies at CCMS for eight years.
Name: Dr. David Montroni New Job: School 4 Principal 194 West Second Street Old Job: School 15 Principal Bio: Montroni was School 15’s principal for 10 years. Prior to that, he was the business administrator and assistant superintendent in Bergen County and Livingston.
Name: Jennifer Montesano New Job: School 15 Principal 700 Gregory Avenue Old Job: Principal in Little Falls Bio: Montesano, 30, was a principal in Little Falls for two years before coming to Clifton. Prior to that, she was a V.P. in Sparta and a teacher in Montville for six years.
Name: Jimmie Warren New Job: CHS Principal Old Job: CCMS Principal Bio: Warren has been CCMS principal since 2004. He’s been a principal for 14 years and was a school superintendent for 12, previously serving as assistant schools superintendent in New York. In 2006, the Clifton BOE voted not to renew his contract but reinstated him a month later.
Name: Mark Tietjen New Job: CCMS Principal Old Job: CCMS Vice Principal Bio: Tietjen, 50, was Christopher’s V.P. for four years. Prior to that, he taught special education and social studies at WWMS. Tietjen is a CHS ’76 and William Paterson College graduate. He and his wife have three children, including two at Clifton High School.
Name: Tommie Patterson New Job: Boys Basketball Coach Old Job: Eastside Assistant Coach Bio: Patterson, 38, is a Kennedy H.S. and William Paterson Univ. grad. Between 1999 and 2006, he led Paterson Catholic to a 135-43 record. During the ’06-’07 season, he was the head coach at Eastside before being demoted to assistant due to problems with his certification.
40
September 2008 • Clifton Merchant