Email: jdutt@northwarren.org
Website: www.northwarren.org
Location: Blairstown, NJ, United States
Phone: 908-362-8211 (1202)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthWarrenRegionalSchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @NorthWarrenHS

I hope this communication finds you enjoying a positive school year thus far. As I began my 6th year here at North Warren, albeit in a new role, I could not help but smile at how "normal" the start has been. There is a different energy in the building for both staff and students. Maybe we are all simply grateful that we made it through an incredibly challenging 2 years together and are happy to be back to how things were before the pandemic.

Mrs. Murphy, Acting Principal, has been in communication with families and I know you are getting the information you need as it pertains to the daily operations of our school. Still, I want to share some district-level initiatives and goals with you as well. Please review our district, school, and board goals, our Portrait of a Patriot outcomes, and information on the permanent superintendent search.

For those of you who live or work in the community, but did not have children come through North Warren Regional during my five-year tenure as Principal, here is an overview of my professional history should you wish to know some of my background:

• Phillipsburg High & Alternative School Spanish teacher
• Director of Curriculum, Phillipsburg
• Interim Elementary Principal, Barber School, Phillipsburg
• Lopatcong Township Middle School Principal
• North Warren Regional Principal & Director of Curriculum
• Becoming Your Best Global Leadership Trainer/Coach
  
• President of Warren-Hunterdon County Principal & Supervisors Association
• New Jersey Principal and Supervisors Association, Board of Director Member
• Warren-Hunterdon Women In Leadership founder
• Centenary University, Adjunct Faculty

District Goals 2022-2023

North Warren Regional High School will support all students’ academic and social-emotional needs.

Broaden District communication to an expanded number of constituent groups, including but not limited to parents and families, sending District communities, and alumni.

Address priority facility needs as identified in the facility audit in a fiscally responsible manner, in order to support student achievement.

Board Goal 2022-2023

Successfully complete the Superintendent Search process and onboarding of our new leadership.

NWR will build and maintain a high-trust environment that encourages collaboration, promotes a growth mindset, protects the health and well-being of staff and students, and acknowledges and celebrates each individual’s uniqueness.

NWR will engage in positive and productive interactions and communications for all staff, students, and parents.

NWR will engage in best practices in curriculum and data analysis to support students and teachers in a mixed-ability grouping instructional model.

NWR will continue to support the work and goals of the Patriot Improvement Panel.

NWR will enhance the current Road to Success protocol for the success of each individual student with a focus on predetermined academic interventions.

As part of the transition of leadership, we are focused on providing more open communication with our parents and community members. We want to know what you feel we are doing well and some areas of challenge for our school. We hosted 6 chats this past summer and we are going to periodically run feedback forums throughout the year. Please see the RSVP form below for more information.

Last year we engaged in a process called Portrait of a Patriot. We had a design team comprised of parents, community members, staff, students, leaders, etc. that worked together over multiple meetings to determine what each graduate of NWR needs to be successful in the ever-changing, 21st-century world. Below you can access the final outcomes of that process. Our consultant and I presented this at the May board meeting and we spoke about the next steps in this process. Basically, the outcome of the Portrait will drive our decisions in program and curriculum and will give us a focus that puts our students at the center.

This year, we will engage in the development of a new Strategic Plan with a focus on the outcome of the Portrait as well as focus areas like finance, facilities, and communication. I will announce dates for community input sessions as they become finalized.

Please consider being a participating member of this very exciting process for the future of our Patriots!

Please join Kathleen Helewa, the NJ School Board's Association representative, for an in-person community input session on October 18, 2022, at 6:00 pm in the Media Center. She will gather information from the parents and community to help guide the process and selection of the permanent Superintendent for North Warren Regional.