NORTH WILDWOOD — A local public high school principal who learned several weeks ago that he would be losing his job this year has found a new home at the county’s only Roman Catholic high school.
Theodore Pugliese, outgoing principal at Middle Township High School, has accepted the position of Academic Dean at Wildwood Catholic High School. School officials made the announcement at a press conference on June 1.
In January, Wildwood Catholic, which has been open for about 60 years, was targeted for closure by the Camden Diocese due to declining enrollment and financial difficulties. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of a group of school parents, alumni and other community stakeholders, the school was saved.
Part of the school’s plans to make Wildwood Catholic successful included finding the right leader to build an academic program that would entice students to enroll at the school.
“As the principal of one of the largest high schools in the county, Ted comes with a wealth of knowledge in secondary education,” Wallace told the Herald. “When the (Academic Dean) search committee interviewed Ted, we were absolutely convinced that he was the candidate we wanted for the position. We actually saw him as a gift sent by God.”
“After interviewing with (Wildwood Catholic president) Father (Joseph) Wallace and being offered the job here, I was very excited. I had heard of their successful campaign to save the school from closure and I hope to continue that success,” Pugliese said. “I feel like I was called to take this position.”
Pugliese said he was surprised and disappointed when he learned that his contract in Middle Township would not be renewed this year.
“I went on a vacation with my family and came back home knowing I would have to start looking for a new job,” he said.
He said public schools in New Jersey were experiencing “unprecedented budgetary problems” and he was a victim of that in Middle Township. He was at the high school for nearly three years, needing to be reappointed this year to become tenured.
That didn’t happen. He said a tenured administrator in the district would likely be taking his position next year.
As a school board member in Galloway Township where he and his family reside, Pugliese said he recognized the strain that districts were under. He said the Galloway district had targeted 70 employees for layoffs this year before he resigned his board position April 27 after learning of his predicament.
In Cape May County, school districts in Middle Township, the Wildwoods and other areas were forced to layoff staff during the recent budget cycles.
Public schools aren’t alone. Wildwood Catholic also made some cuts, laying off seven employees.
Mergers also affected local Catholic schools. Wildwood Catholic will share its building at 1500 Central Ave. with a newly-formed Cape Trinity Elementary School, which was merged from St. Raymond’s in Villas, St. Ann’s in Wildwood and Our Lady Star of the Sea in Cape May.
Pugliese noted that some of his colleagues had counseled him not to accept the position because he would be taking considerably less money and leaving the generous public school pension benefit program. Wallace said that Pugliese was showing his commitment to education and his Catholic faith by accepting the position. He acknowledged the substantial cut in salary Pugliese would be taking.
Since he accepted the Wildwood Catholic position, Pugliese said he has to cancel some other interviews he had made for other administration jobs at public schools in the area.
Wallace said Pugliese would be handling all academic aspects of Wildwood Catholic, working with students, parents and school officials in the formulation of a plan for the future.
“He has already agreed to pursue the school’s plans to work with local colleges in allowing students to get college credits while in high school,” Wallace said. “We’re very excited to have him at Wildwood Catholic.”
Pugliese said he hadn’t had the opportunity yet to begin much planning because he is still under contract with Middle Township until the end of June.
“I look forward to getting to work at Wildwood Catholic to try to continue the success they’ve had and building a program for the future,” he said. “Our first mission is to make that success permanent, increase enrollment and keep Wildwood Catholic open for another 60 years or more.”
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