Crossroads So. Middle School names new vice principal
Carol Piza coordinated special education services
BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer

C arol Piza, currently the coordinator of special education services for the South Brunswick school district, was recently named vice principal of Crossroads South Middle School.

"I'm looking forward to working with students and their families," Piza said. "That's what I did in special education as a coordinator. It's a different slant on the role I've had in the district. I want to work closely with the staff to make what I consider a great school even better."

Piza, who lives in Dayton, feels like she's coming back home. She has worked 21 years in the district and 16 of those have been as a teacher in the middle school, so she will be used to working with this age group. Piza believes these middle school students can be molded socially and academically.

"We have many activities beyond the school day," Piza said. "A student's selfesteem is really important."

Piza loves working with middle school students and says it's definitely her favorite age group, even though she's worked with every age group possible as coordinator of special education.

"They're at a critical age where they make some important decisions," she said. "Students are influenced by those around them."

Piza is also happy she will get to continue working closely with special education at the middle school.

"There's a life skills program there for children with cognitive impairments," she said. "I'll work very closely with that program."

Piza has taught regular and special education classes in the past, mostly in language arts. She is a national board certified teacher of language arts.

What other kinds of things will Piza be working on at her new post?

"I'll be working on academic achievement for all students so that they are able to reach their full potential," Piza said. "I will try to improve respectful behavior in schools. Students talk to me about working on character education and respect. Students often don't know that their words are hurtful."

She said that making respect a schoolwide initiative is the only way to do it. She explained that doing programs and teaching them as classes often does not work. Permeating the mantra "Behave respectfully" throughout the school would be a better approach.

One thing that will be markedly different from working as a coordinator will be that she must now be involved in student discipline. She says she really feels good about this new aspect of her job and says it's all about respect.

"You build trust with them," Piza said. "It's very similar to the role of a teacher. You want to work closely with them and be friendly with them, but you're also an administrator."