Leadership & Board

John Cohrs, M.Ed

Executive Director

In 2019, John Cohrs joined the Calais family as the Assistant Principal and Supervisor of Curriculum. In 2020, he was promoted to Principal. In the Spring of 2022, the Calais School Board named John as the new Calais School Executive Director.

John brings over 20 years’ experience in private education as a teacher, supervisor, assistant principal, and principal. In addition, he has had an ongoing engagement with the financial, legal and regulatory aspects of accredited independent schools, and holds a proven track record of fiscal growth and school advancement. John is excited for the opportunity to contribute at this level to a school with such a rich tradition of innovation and therapeutic support. He believes that The Calais School has a strong faculty and staff that puts students first and sees the school experience through the eyes of the children.

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Theresa Fritzky, M.Ed

Principal

Director of Calais Extended School Year (ESY) Program

Theresa Fritzky joined Calais in August 2020 as the school’s Assistant Principal and Supervisor of Instruction. Prior to Calais, Theresa served as the Supervisor of Special Education for Jefferson Township Schools. She is certified as a principal and a teacher of special education and was named Teacher of the Year while working as a special education teacher in the Mount Olive School District.

As the Principal of Calais, she looks forward to collaborating with the administrative team as well as the faculty and staff to continue to move the school forward with its mission to help students reach their utmost potential.

Ms. Fritzky has a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and Special Education from Centenary College in Hackettstown and a master’s degree in Education Leadership from Montclair State University. She is certified as a principal and teacher of special education. Ms. Fritzky was also named Teacher of the Year while working as a special education teacher in the Mount Olive School District.

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Patrick Cooper

Assistant Principal

Supervisor of Instruction

In 2022, Patrick Cooper joined The Calais School as the Assistant Principal. He has been an experienced Special Educator for over 10 years, facilitating learning across all content areas. He holds a Bachelor in the Arts of English Literature from Rutgers, and Master degrees in the Arts of Teaching Special Education and in Educational Administration and Supervision – both from New Jersey City University. He is also certified as an English teacher, a teacher of students with disabilities, a supervisor, and a principal. Previously, Mr. Cooper worked at Pequannock Township High School and Spectrum 360.

Mr. Cooper believes that student choice is essential to fostering independence and also advocates for using environmentally sustainable practices whenever possible. He looks forward to working with the students, staff, and administration to create worthwhile educational outcomes.

BOARD

President, Richard Jotz

Vice President of Health and Benefits at AON

Vice President, Marvin Leiken

Former Principal, Stepping Stones School
Former Executive Director, The Children’s Therapy Center Upper School
Former Executive Director/Principal, The Children’s Therapy Center School
Former Principal, Montgomery Academy

Treasurer, David Heckler

TRUSTEES

Jason Bossart

Chief Operating Officer, The Town School

David Rostan, Esq.

Attorney, Law Office of David Rostan

Professional Affiliations:

– New Jersey State Bar Association
– New York State Bar Association
– National Employment Lawyers Association, New Jersey
– Morris County District “X” Ethics Committee Investigator

Liz Nissim, Ph.D.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified School Psychologist

TRUSTEE EMERITUS

Laura Budinick, PsyD

Assistant Vice President at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

Howard Buxbaum

VP of Administration & Finance, Bloomfield College

Daniel Karger, LCSW (1949-2020)

Independent Medical Health Care Professional

Fred Scampato, Esq.

Attorney, Law Office of Fred Scampato