School Board Appoints 3 New Administrators

By Barbara A. Preston | Posted June 1, 2023

The Montgomery Township Board of Education approved two new principals and a new business administrator/board secretary at its May 9 meeting. Lisa Romano will become the new Lower Middle School (LMS) principal, effective July 1. She replaces Michael Richards, who is retiring.

Lisa Romano, the new principal of Montgomery Lower Middle School.

Raquel Estremera-River will become the new Upper Middle School (UMS) principal. She replaces Cory Delgado, who served as UMS principal for 11 years, and has been an educator in the Montgomery district for almost 27 years according to LinkedIn.

Raquel Estremera-Rivera, new principal of Upper Middle School.

Delgado will become the new director of guidance, replacing Corie Gaylord. Gaylord is retiring after about 21 years with the Montgomery school district. She served as director of student academic and counseling for eight of those years.

Finally, the school board approved the hiring of Jack Trent as the new business administrator and school board secretary. He replaces Alicia Schauer, who resigned last fall.

Jack Trent, new business administrator and board secretary.

Lisa Romano Romano previously served as the vice principal of LMS. “I am grateful to be a resident of this incredible community for 27 years, and to have been an educator in the Montgomery school district for 15 years,” she said at the board meeting.

“Everyone of our teachers, all of our administrators, and every single person on our staff is a team that is committed to building relationship with everyone of our students and their families to be sure we truly champion every student.” “Following in Mr. Richards’ leadership, I have tremendous shoes to fill,” she said. “I will work hard to continued to foster all that Mr. Richardson taught us to value—curiosity, passion, and the well-being of all of our students.” “Mr. Richards is a mainstay of LMS. Many of the traditions he began at LMS will continue. He will not be forgotten.”

Raquel Estremera-Rivera Rivera earned her master’s degree in educational leadership and supervision from The College of New Jersey and her bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Latino Caribbean Studies from Rutgers University. She is a doctoral candidate at Rider University, with a dissertation focus on restorative justice practices in education. She has served as an educator in Hopewell Valley Regional School District for 25 years as a vice principal and a K-12 Spanish teacher, winning the governor’s teacher-of-the-year award.

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She says she loves spending time with her husband, José, her son, Alejandro, her daughter, Victoria, and their two dogs Reeses and Coco. “A year ago, [MHS] Principal Heather Pino-Beatty welcomed me to the Montgomery High School family as vice principal,” “Heather has been invested in my happiness and success since my first day at MHS, she has fostered an environment that has allowed me to learn, inquire, and contribute, and to spread my wings. And now, I am soaring.” As principal of UMS, Rivera said she is inspired to push boundaries, strive for excellence, and ensure every student feels safe and is seen for their authentic selves.

Jack Trent Trent previously served as business administrator and board secretary in the Holland Township and Alexandria Township school districts. He also served in the U.S. Navy, including a tour of Afghanistan in 2015- 2016. “I am honored to join a district such as Montgomery,” he said. “I worked in five other districts but don’t worry, every district has been a move up for me. And I consider Montgomery to be the top that you can get.”