New Assistant Principal Appointed for MAMS

The Board of Education voted unanimously to hire Mark Van Horn as the new assistant principal at Matawan Aberdeen Middle School.

Van Horn is currently the director of technology and supervisor of the technology and business departments for the Manasquan school district, where he has been since February 2008. Previously, he worked as a teacher in Holmdel.

"We're very pleased to have him on board. He certainly is a candidate that we feel is going to assist us with really moving the district forward in terms of student achievement, curriculum and instruction and the overall student climate at the middle school," Superintendent David Healy said. "We welcome him on board as part of our team and we really look forward to working with him."

According to Healy, Van Horn is an excellent candidate because of his experience as both an administrator and a teacher in addition to his academic achievement. Van Horn graduated from The College of New Jersey School of Engineering at the top of his class in 2001 and went on to Rutgers Unversity, where he earned a master's degree in educational administration and supervision.

"He taught technology classes and also created curriculum in Manasquan. He also spearheaded the redevelopment of the district's technology education program," Healy said.

At Matawan Aberdeen Middle School, there are two assistant principles that work under the principal. The role consists of curriculum design, instruction evaluation, operations, community relationships with parent groups and business and processing discipline.

"It's a big position," Healy said. "We're fortunate to have a candidate of this caliber."