The Palmyra School District will welcome a familiar face as Dan Licata makes his way back to where his education career began.
“My career in public education began 15 years ago at Palmyra High School as a social studies teacher in Room 15,” he shared in a letter to the Palmyra High/Middle School parents, students and staff. “I spent eight incredible years teaching and coaching the outstanding young people of this district.”
Licata will be back to his career roots starting at the end of October as he was appointed as the new principal for Palmyra High/Middle schools. The Palmyra Board of Education accepted the appointment of Licata at a pro-rated salary of $135,000 at a board meeting in September.
He replaces longtime principal Lisa Sabo, who had served as the school’s principal since 2018.
“What always stood out to me was the daily support students gave one another,” he added. “The size of our school and the close-knit relationships among students and staff fosters a spirit of inclusivity and belonging that left a lasting impression on me as an educator.”
Since 2017, Licata has gained his administrative experience at Riverside High School and Haddonfield Memorial High School.
“At Riverside High School, I served as the assistant principal and director for student activities, where I focused on improving instructional rigor, addressing curricular inefficiencies, tackling attendance issues, and maintaining a positive environment for our students to learn and grow,” he said.
“In 2019, I took on the role of assistant principal for student achievement at Haddonfield Memorial High School. I was consistently inspired by the dedication of our students and staff as they strived daily to be the best they could be. From service projects to student performances and leadership opportunities, the work was nothing short of inspiring.”
Licata said he is “eager to bring what I have learned and implemented in these neighboring districts to Palmyra Middle/High School, tailoring it to meet the specific needs of our school.”
In addition to his public education experience, Licata is working on his doctoral dissertation at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.
“My research focuses on how public schools, particularly those in southern New Jersey, can improve students’ access to courses with high academic intensity,” he shared in his letter.
Licata holds a master’s degree in leadership in education from Capella University and undergraduate degree in secondary education (social studies) from Clemson University.
“Throughout my career in public education my focus has always been on enhancing resources to meet the needs of all students,” he said. “At Palmyra Middle/High School this will remain my priority. I have already spent many years working within the walls of this great school and know how much our students can achieve when we work together.
“This is a special school community and by working together for our studetns we will provide them with a great foundation for life-ling success.”
