By Lori Anne Oliwa | Correspondent

Janet P. Dolan, retiring principal of St. James Elementary School, Red Bank, noted that the school community has been a “tremendous” part of her life for 22 years. The strong advocate for Catholic education had a tough time making the decision to retire.

“It was extremely difficult. I’ve learned so much here and have grown spiritually. The school has been a big part of my life,” she stated.

Asked about what she will miss the most, Dolan replied without hesitation, “Interacting with the students and being an extension of parents and grandparents.”

Dolan joined the St. James community as a third-grade teacher in 1989. After four years, the principal at the time encouraged her to accept the position of vice-principal. She accepted and served four years in that role before being named principal in 1997, a post she has held for 14 years.

“Obviously, God called me to do something more,” Dolan added, “and I believe that teaching is a calling, not a career.”

Dolan attended Catholic schools all her life - from grammar school through to college – and credits her education as the source of her success. Her three children have also attended Catholic schools.

“I decided early on that I wanted to serve the Church. My husband and I wanted our own children to grow up like we did and to have the values we were raised with reflected in their school life,” she explained.

Prior to St. James, Dolan taught in St. Patrick School in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and upon relocating to Middletown with her husband, joined St. Mary Parish, Middletown, and became a pre-school teacher there.

Dolan reflected on her accomplishments and said she is leaving “a very healthy school.” In particular, she remembers the beginnings of the technological revolution in the early 1990s and joked that she was there from the start. The smart boards and laptops which students use now are something of which she is very proud, along with the creation of a technology program and two new technology laboratories.

The curricula expanded under her leadership to include pre-algebra, algebra, advanced language arts for sixth, seventh and eighth graders, Spanish instruction for pre-school students, and a remedial reading and mathematics program. New extra-curricular activities like the Challenge Program, Peer-to-Peer Leadership Program, Royal Ambassador Program, and the Community Service Program flourished during her tenure along with the St. James Athletic Association.

Dolan plans on spending as much time as she can with her grandchildren and will also be joining the staff of Georgian Court University as a field supervisor for student teachers. Her love of liturgy has inspired her to start her own business assisting couples who are planning wedding ceremonies.

“I’ll be led where I’m supposed to go,” Dolan concluded.

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