Richard Stec, currently the assistant principal at Grover Middle School, has been chosen to replace former K-12 Science Supervisor Rebecca McLelland-Crawley, who oversaw the unpopular honors biology pilot program at High School North (The News, May 16).
Stec smiled broadly at the July 22 Board of Education meeting, during which his new position was officially approved. “I am very excited about this opportunity, and am looking forward to working on the curriculum side of the administration. I did my graduate work in science curriculum and have a completely open heart and mind towards science. Plus, the district science staff is phenomenal — they are highly trained and capable teachers, and I look forward to leading them further into the 21st century.”
Stec, who was born and raised in Hamilton Square, still lives there with his wife, Deborah, and his three sons: Gregory, 21, who is a senior at Stockton State; Matthew, 18, who will be starting at Rowan College in September; and David, 15, who will be a sophomore at Steinert High School.
Stec has a strong science and education background upon which he can draw in his new position. He earned an associate’s degree in plant science from Mercer County Community College, as well as a bachelor of science in environmental planning and design. He also holds a master’s degree in curriculum instruction and supervision and a principal’s certificate from Rider.
Before becoming an assistant principal, Stec taught science for 12 years, first in Robbinsville, where he taught high school honors and college prep biology and was the assistant coach for the science Olympiad, and then taught seventh and eighth grade level science, including earth, life, and physical science. He then transferred to the WW-P school district, where he taught middle school science at Grover for three years before becoming the assistant principal.
And Stec’s love of science began long before college. “When I was nine years old, I could identify many, many varieties and types of trees, because I had an eye for detail and a natural innate curiosity about things. I gravitated towards plants and eventually the concepts of genetics, natural mutations, and inherited characteristics.”
Stec credits his parents, particularly his father, with helping him to discover his love of science. “My mother was a stay-at-home mom who raised five kids, and I learned my cooking skills from her. My father was a machinist and engineer for General Motors, and I inherited my constant questioning from him. When I was young, he showed me an old generator. He took it apart and showed me the wiring, the connation between the wiring known as the electronic bridge, which carries 20,000 volts. He showed me that the connection provides continuity. This was my first real introduction to physics.”
Nonetheless, said Stec, “When the opening for science supervisor was announced, I didn’t even consider the position at first. But when [Superintendent] Dr. Aderhold and I had a conversation, I was pleasantly surprised and honored because he suggested the position to me. Plus, when your boss asks you to consider a position, it is wise to do so,” he added.
“I met with some of the science teachers at our recent professional development day, and I felt an instant connection to them. We are of the same mind — we all love science, love teaching science, and we want the kids to be connected to science,” Stec continued.
Stec noted that the most important aspect of being a supervisor “is to always ask yourself, ‘how can we do best for the students, every hour of every day?’ A close second is the need to support the teachers who report to you. The teachers need to feel like they are valued; that their work and their ideas are viewed as important. It is very important that a new administrator builds trust and a relationship with his or staff before making any changes to the curriculum or teaching methods. I will not make any significant changes without a communion of the minds; I don’t believe in a top-down style of leadership. Real leadership comes from within, and I will work with the teachers and utilize their ideas. Of course I will consider changes as time goes on, but for now, the relationship with my teachers is my priority.”
He has some personal goals as well. “I would like to continue to develop my skills in leadership and in developing curriculum and instruction. I want to work hard to align, motivate, and inspire not only the students but the teachers as well. I really enjoy working with the kids, but I also love working with adults, fellow teachers, and I hope to have a positive impact on them. The mark of a good administrator, and in fact a teacher, is to inspire others to be better than you are, and I am hoping to be able to do that with the district science staff.”
“I want to be clear: I have very much enjoyed my time at Grover. I loved my work as an assistant principal, and [principal] Brian Harris and [assistant principal] Jack Collela were great to work with. The teachers and the staff at Grover are phenomenal. I will have two new offices, the main one at High School North, and a smaller office at High School South, and so I will really miss the atmosphere at Grover. But even though I will now be representing 10 schools with 10 different mascots, I will always ‘have my spots!’” joked Stec, referring to Grover’s jaguar mascot.
“My suggestion to whoever will be replacing me is to continue to help the staff and the administration breathe new life into what it means to be a ‘Jag.’ Grover is a special place; it is a family. Embrace the traditions there, but help to make it even better.”
Regarding the district’s science curriculum, Stec said, “teaching is much the same as utilizing the scientific method. You use your own ideas, plus your education, outside instruction, and professional development to figure out what works, and what doesn’t work, always keeping in mind that your goal is develop what’s best for the students. The prudent thing to do is to study what’s in front of you, as a scientist would, to see what’s working well. And you need to acknowledge people for their efforts, the work they have done. But you also have to keep an open mind. If something doesn’t work, you discard it and try something new, until you get it right.”
