24 May 2021

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s): 


After a thorough search, comprised of the valuable contributions from the Input Survey and the many hours dedicated by the CDW Faculty, Administrative, and Board Committees, I am pleased to inform the Old Tappan community that Ms. Jennifer Santa was unanimously approved as the new Charles DeWolf Middle School Principal by the Board of Education at its meeting of 24 May 2021. Ms. Santa will be joining our District with 19 years of experience in the field of education, after serving as an elementary school teacher, a middle school teacher, and an assistant principal. Ms. Santa’s knowledge of middle-level education, student differences, curriculum design, and data analysis are underscored only by her friendly personality and approachable, yet, authoritative disposition.  

Ms. Santa is currently serving as an Assistant Principal in the Cranford Public School District and is responsible for the middle school grades. She has been an Assistant Principal in the Hillside Avenue School since 2017. During her tenure as an Assistant Principal, Ms. Santa initiated a Response to Intervention Program for all students and served as the middle school lead on the district’s academic data team, among many other responsibilities assumed at the middle school level. Prior to serving in Cranford, Ms. Santa was the District English Language Arts Coordinator in Mansfield Township from 2012-2017. In Mansfield Township, Ms. Santa began her career as a second-grade teacher and soon after became a sixth-grade Language Arts teacher in the same district. Outside of the school building, Ms. Santa has served as a middle school and high school coach for many years, beginning in 2002, with experiences in soccer, boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, and softball.

We look forward to welcoming Ms. Santa’s understanding of the middle-level learner and to embracing her positive energy, as it spreads throughout our school.


Ms. Santa's start date as Principal of CDW is being solidified, as we await an official release date from her current district. However, Ms. Santa is expected to begin her tenure in Old Tappan sometime during July, and, with the collaboration of her current employer, she will be spending a little time at CDW in June prior to school ending.

Once Ms. Santa arrives and gets settled, we will coordinate a Meet & Greet for parents/guardians.  


Thank you for your continuous support of our schools. Your partnership is invaluable to our District's success.

Respectfully,

Danielle M. Da Giau, Ed.D. 
Superintendent of Schools/Acting Principal, CDW
Old Tappan Public School District