Superintendent recommends longtime UMS vice principal Mark Ricarte to be next UMS principal; start date July 1

Superintendent Mary McLaughlin announced at the April 29 meeting that she was recommending Mark Ricarte to the board as the next principal of Montgomery Upper Middle School.

McLaughlin described Ricarte as a longtime Montgomery Township School District staff member who began his career as a special-education teacher, has served as UMS vice principal for four years and, she said, holds multiple education degrees from The College of New Jersey. The superintendent said the board would be approving him during the meeting and that he is expected to begin the role on July 1.

Ricarte addressed the board and the public, said he has worked in the MTSD community for 11 years, and reviewed his background: special-education teaching across settings, leading musical productions, serving as eighth-grade advisor and supervising traditions such as Camp Mason and promotion. He said his priorities include support for students’ academic, social and emotional growth, strengthening multi-tiered systems of support, and continuing programs such as Cougar Care Day.

Ricarte thanked family, colleagues and mentors for support. After his remarks, board members and the public offered applause. The transcript records the superintendent’s announcement and Ricarte’s remarks but does not contain a separate, explicit roll-call vote on the appointment in the excerpt provided; the superintendent said the appointment would begin July 1.

Ending: The district will publish any formal personnel resolution and the effective start date in board minutes and the district personnel postings.