The board of trustees in Mater Dei Prep, New Monmouth, announced that James Hauenstein has been named the school’s inaugural president effective July 1. On the same day, Mater Dei Prep will officially begin as a private, Catholic college preparatory school.

Randy MacDonald, chair of the board, said, “We were looking for a person who would embody three unique elements of Mater Dei Prep in one person: a rigorous academician to oversee our uniquely flexible college preparatory curriculum, the skilled, hands-on administrator to support our individualized approach to students and a nurturing mentor for our vibrant, Catholic community.

“Hauenstein’s extensive experience as a seasoned and professional educator for the last 33 years was an ideal match for those criteria. We are delighted that Mr. Hauenstein will be providing that leadership for Mater Dei Prep,” said MacDonald.

Of his new appointment, Hauenstein said, “I look forward to seeing our great students at Mater Dei Prep accomplish great things. I am very excited for this opportunity which will allow me to return to the foundation of my educational philosophy of being student-centered. Just as importantly, I believe we can expand a collegiate culture to help students achieve their post-secondary aspirations. I plan to utilize my strengths and passion as an educator to support every student at Mater Dei Prep.”

Hauenstein has spent the last four years as an assistant superintendent of the Toms River Regional School District. His duties included supervision of three high schools and three intermediate schools. This year Toms River had more than 1,300 graduating seniors. Prior to that he spent seven years as principal of Toms River High School North.

Hauenstein is a 1982 graduate of the Lynch School of Education at Boston College where he was awarded bachelor of arts degree in elementary/special education. He also holds a master of arts degree in supervision, curriculum and administration from Georgian Court University, Lakewood, and is a certified school administrator, principal and supervisor of instruction.

William Cardone, principal of St. James Elementary School, Red Bank, and retired assistant superintendent of schools in Toms River, said that in the nearly 25 years he has known Hauenstein on both personal and professional levels, he has “watched him grow and develop from a master teacher into a very effective school administrator.”

“Being either an administrator or principal are very demanding and challenging positions and Jim excelled at both. Jim is a man of character who has a tireless work ethic, is attentive to detail and is altruistic in his desire to help students and staff succeed,” said Cardone.

On April 30 of this year, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., approved a plan by the Mater Dei Prep board of trustees to re-open the 53-year-old Catholic high school in Middletown as a new, private Catholic high school. In addition to responding to all of the due diligence requested by the Diocese of Trenton, the school, in concert with the Seraph’s Fund, raised more than $1.5 million in approximately 45 days. The support for the school was generated from the community, including approximately 6,000 alumni, who so valued their education and high school experience at Mater Dei Prep, that they invested their intellectual, emotional and financial resources to ensure this opportunity would be available to future generations of Seraphs. The community is also supporting Mater Dei Prep in this rejuvenation in another important and tangible way, as it appears that Mater Dei Prep will have more students registered for September than the approximately 340 students this past year.

MacDonald acknowledged the personnel who participated in the search committee for the new president including: Dr. Margaret Boland, assistant superintendent in the diocesan Department of Catholic Schools, Dr. Timothy Briles, assistant dean, School of Education in Georgian Court University, and Christian Brother Frank Byrnes, president of Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft.