After an impressive career as a public school educator and administrator, Linda D. Pesce is looking forward to combining her expertise and her faith when she takes the helm as principal at Holy Family School, Lakewood, in September.
Pesce, 55, who retired this spring as principal at River Plaza Elementary School, Middletown, resides in Brick where she’s a member of Visitation Parish and sings in the adult choir.
She brings with her to Holy Family School, more than three decades of administrative and classroom experience in districts throughout the shore including: Central Regional High School, Bayville and Cedar Drive Middle School, Colts Neck, where she was the world language department chair and also served as interim assistant principal between 2003 and 2005.
In 2005, she became supervisor of instruction at Conover Road Primary and Elementary Schools in Colts Neck and Spanish teacher for first and second grades. From 2006 through 2007, she served as interim principal at Conover Road Primary School and then accepted the position of principal at the Middletown school from which she retired in July.
The Georgian Court University, Lakewood, graduate taught Spanish language courses at her alma mater between 1979 and 1987 and from 2000 to 2003.
For 12 years – from 1989 to 1986, she taught summer courses at the University of San Diego’s Guadalajara Summer School in Mexico.
A 1989 recipient of the Governor’s Teacher of the Year Award and 1999 recipient of the Alumni Service Award from Georgian Court College (now university), she is a member of numerous professional organizations including the New Jersey Principals’ Association; Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development; the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and the Foreign Language Educators of New Jersey.
Pesce said that she had been considering a retirement career conducting workshops for Spanish teachers when she learned through a member of St. Mary of the Lake Parish that the position of principal had opened up at Holy Family School with an enrollment of 350 in grades pre-k through eighth.
Pesce said she was delighted to be tapped for the job. “I began my education in Catholic school, attending first and second grade before moving to the shore and attending public school. I attended Georgian Court as an undergraduate,” said Pesce who added that she has always enjoyed being active in parish life.
Pesce, who enjoys traveling – especially to Mexico – attending the theater and spending time with her family and friends, said that she is looking forward to the opening of school this September.
“I think the most important thing will be to get the lay of the land.
I want to get to know people and earn their trust and respect and go from there. To me, it’s important to observe, listen, keep your door open and encourage people to come in and share their ideas and expectations,” she reflected.
