Familiar Vice Principal Comes to RFH

Call it a high school homecoming  — of the administrative kind.

After starting his education career as a part-time Latin teacher at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) 15 years ago, Stephen Sarles has been called back — to the principal's office.

He was approved as the high school's next vice principal at the Oct. 1 Board of Education meeting, and will settle into his new role in RFH academia in late November or early December.

"I had a tremendous experience at RFH and it was a great way to begin my teaching career," said Sarles in a release. "I learned numerous lessons from the staff and from my supervisor that helped me become successful as an educator."

After his part-time Latin teaching stint at RFH as well as Red Bank Regional High School (RBR) in 1998, Sarles went on to work full-time as a teacher at RBR and other schools.

At RBR, he ended up being voted Teacher of the Year in 2005 and became the high school's first coordinator of baccalaureate studies. In addition to teaching all levels of Latin at RBR, Sarles taught AP Art History, Classical Mythology, and Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology.

In addition to his teaching career, Sarles has three years of administrative experience, having served as supervisor of World Cultures in the Ocean Township School District. In this position, he oversaw the  World Language Department for grades one through 12 and the Social Studies
Department for grades six through 12, the release said.

With former vice principal, Chris Lanzalotto, taking on his new role as RFH's director of athletics and student activities, Sarles saw the opening as a perfect opportunity to return to a school he remembered as a great place to work.

"I am truly excited to be returning to RFH," said Sarles. "So many people speak highly of RFH to me, which indicates that even though many of the names and faces have changed it is still providing the same positive experience that I enjoyed 15 years ago."


Sarles' Educational Background ...

After graduating from Somerville High School in Somerset County, Sarles, a Monmouth County resident for the past 15 years who now lives in West Long Branch, attended the University of Missouri and completed a double major in Classical Archaeology and Latin.

He earned his master of arts degree in Classical Archaeology from Florida State University. While at FSU, he worked on two archaeological excavations — at Cetamura in Italy and at the Agora in Athens, Greece — and also began his teaching career as an instructor in Classical Mythology and Roman Archaeology.