Administration
Mrs. Santolla, Principal
Email: rsantolla@barnegatschools.com
Phone: (609) 660-8900
Qualifications: Masters Degree in Educational Leadership Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education K-8; Bachelor of Science as a Physical Therapist
After spending 18 years at the Robert L Horbelt Elementary School teaching grades 4 and 5 as well as Basics Skills Instruction, I proudly joined the Barnegat Township School District’s administrative team in 2018 as the District Supervisor of Elementary Education, and currently as the principal of the Joseph T Donahue School. Prior to my career in education, I worked in acute care, outpatient therapy, and home care as a physical therapist. Combining these careers, I have a deep understanding of, and appreciation for, the well being of the mind and body.
As a member of the Barnegat community for over 30 years, I can assure you that I share your dedication in providing a meaningful learning environment for your children. I believe in the cooperation of the home-school connection so our students can learn and grow to their highest potential, both academically and socially, while enjoying a positive experience. At the Donahue School we are committed to each of our students and their success
Mrs. Samantha Burke, Assistant Principal
Email: sburke@barnegatschools.com
Phone: (609) 660-8900
X: (Formerly Known as Twitter): @MrsBurkeEDU
Qualifications: Masters of Arts in Administration and Supervision; Bachelor of Arts in English and Subject-Matter Education (K-12)
Before becoming vice principal, I proudly worked in various Barnegat schools for the majority of my career and am honored to be part of the leadership team. Prior to this position, I served as an instructional coach for Barnegat High School for three years and before that, I taught sixth grade English Language Arts at Russell O. Brackman Middle School. Working with a large span of grade levels has afforded me the unique opportunity to be attuned to the necessary foundation our children need to be successful in the future, and I frequently bring that perspective to Donahue.
I am fully committed to our mission of making a positive impact on our students’ educational journey to becoming responsible and engaged citizens. Third and fourth grade is a pivotal time where many of the students are moving from learning to read to reading to learn. With our vision being rooted in readers being leaders, I encourage you to partner with us as we develop and foster a love of literacy in our children’s lives. Designing an environment where all of our children can be successful is a team effort, and I look forward to partnering with all of you to continue to make Donahue a special place to be.