Leo Whalen Reflects on 20-Plus Year Career as South Plainfield Administrator

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – The South Plainfield School District will soon bid farewell to a familiar face.

Leo Whalen, who has served as an administrator in the district for more than two decades and is currently principal of South Plainfield High School, will officially retire at the end of the month.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

“I have 36 years in education - first teaching and the last 21 as an administrator - and have truly enjoyed it but now is the time,” Whalen told TAPinto South Plainfield, getting a bit emotional when reflecting on his tenure with the district. “Now is the time because I still like what I am doing. I have spent a lot of time here, working hard, but I want to go and do some other things.”

A lifelong resident of North Brunswick, Whalen attended Trenton State and, while working toward his degree, commuted back and forth to coach soccer for his alma mater. He spent a year after college working at Bishop Ahr before being hired by his hometown district, where he would go on to serve as a high school physical education teacher and coach for close to 15 years.

“When I was in North Brunswick, one of the first principals I ever worked for asked me during an evaluation where I saw myself in five years. My response was ‘doing this’ but he recommended I look into administration,” Whalen said. “I guess he saw something and that opened my eyes to it...and that brought me here.”

Whalen went on to earn his masters in 2000 and also served in a non-administrative role as assistant to the principal in North Brunswick. Although he initially planned to dedicate his career to his hometown, administrative positions were not easy to come by at the time, leading Whalen to apply for a job in South Plainfield.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

In July 2003, right before 5th grade was to be integrated into the building, Whalen was hired and named assistant principal of Grant School.

“I was fortunate,” he said, admitting that, back then, if someone had asked him to pinpoint South Plainfield on a map, he would not have been able to. “In a short time, I fell in love with this place. It wasn’t hard to come in and want to be part of the community.”

In 2005, Whalen was promoted to principal of Grant and served in that role until 2011 when he was appointed principal of John E. Riley Elementary School. He held that role until July 2019 when he took on his current position as principal of South Plainfield Middle School. Additionally, over the course of his tenure, Whalen served on various committees and was an executive member of the administrator’s association, including its president for 10 years.

“The elementary school I liked because, on a tough day, I could go to the kindergarten classrooms where the kids were always happy to see you; here at the middle school, you build relationships with the students and that’s special,” Whalen said, reflecting on being able to interact with all grades over the course of his years here. “The reason we are here is for the kids; they are the reason we open and close the doors every day. Our goal is always to do what we can for them and support the staff.”

According to Superintendent Dr. Noreen Tansey, ‘Mr. Whalen has consistently put students first, making fair and thoughtful decisions that earned him the respect of both students and parents.’ In a video tribute to retirees presented during the June board of education meeting , Tansey went on to add that Whalen is known and respected for his ‘transparent communication, always taking the time to explain his rationale and help students understand the importance of his decisions.’

Additionally, she stated that Whalen’s ‘focus on improving classroom instruction and advocating for his faculty and staff, ensuring they had the necessary support to help students succeed, has been unwavering.’

“Leo, your colleagues and I will miss you greatly. You have been a fountain of knowledge, offering valuable insight on district history, educational programs, and advice on handling delicate situations,” Tansey said, adding, “I wish you nothing but health and happiness in your next chapter …. Congratulations… and thank you for your incredible service and dedication.”

Over the past few months, Whalen has been working closely with his successor, Shanti Murray, showing her the ropes and providing her with the blueprints for a building he has called home for the past five years.

“South Plainfield is a unique place and a great community. Great people, kids, and staff and great support all around,” Whalen said of his years here. “I wish Shanti the best.”

Although he has every intention of remaining involved in education -  he has signed on with the state to serve as a mentor to new administrators – Whalen said he isn’t sure what the future holds. While the superintendent commented that she could be reaching out to him in the near future, the soon-to-be retired administrator said his immediate plans include relaxing, enjoying time with his wife and children, and playing golf. He also plans to remain active with the North Brunswick Fire Department, where he has served as a volunteer for over 40 years and is currently deputy chief.

“I don’t know what might happen down the road, but, for right now, I just want to take some time and enjoy it,” Whalen, whose last day is July 31, said.

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net