Frenchtown’s Edith Ort Thomas Elementary School’s new principal is Jim Hintenach, who was most recently assistant principal at the Matheny School in Branchburg Township, a private school for children with disabilities.
Although he’s been working in Somerset County, N.J., he graduated from Delaware Valley High School in 1995. He was brought up in Holland Township, N.J., and lives there now with his wife, Andi, and their kids -- Jimmy, 12, and Rylee, 9.
Hintenach said he was drawn to his new job by “the Frenchtown Elementary School team, community pride, and the opportunity to develop students’ abilities in the small classroom setting.”
His watchword is “teamwork,” and he believes in a collaborative approach to educating the students. He notes that students don’t all learn the same way, so “various strategies, interests, and motivations” should be applied “by a supportive team.”
In his introductory message to the community, he wrote, “’Every Child Learning Every Day’ is our goal; one that ensures that the students of Edith Ort Thomas Elementary School will have the opportunity to learn, grow and be challenged with clear expectations every day. I encourage all students to approach each day with a positive attitude and be open to new experiences. One of my personal goals is to develop a relationship with each student to better understand what interests them so we can best support and prepare your child for the future.”
Hintenach majored in elementary education at York College of Pennsylvania, and holds master’s degrees in special education and in educational leadership from Centenary University.
