In anticipation of the 2026-27 school year, new Principal Sally Fazio sat down and answered a few questions from Knight Life Editor-in-Chief Kaylee Weingarten about herself and the upcoming school year.
Weingarten: After serving as interim principal, how is it different now that you’re officially the principal?
Mrs. Fazio: I have help now, which is great, because when I was interim principal, I wasn’t replaced, so I still was the vice principal of the class of 2027 and also the principal. Last year was a little crazy, but, now, we have Mr. Phillips, who is now the vice principal of the sophomores, and Mr. Mazarik is going to take over as being the vice principal for the seniors, being that he just did it last year, so he’s very well experienced. He’s going to be the vice principal for my seniors, but I’ll always be your vice principal. That’s really the difference. Also getting ready for the school year. Now, it’s my responsibility to get the building ready, not Dr. Sasso’s.
Weingarten: What are your goals for this year?
Mrs. Fazio: I have a few. Academically, we want to raise the bar for our students, and we want to offer additional classes. We have two new AP classes, which I’m excited about, Cybersecurity and seminar, which is English 10. We are expanding our dual enrollment courses, giving our students an opportunity to earn more college credits. We are piloting a program in the English 3 classes this year and focusing on a lot of writing and informational text analyzing, which are a couple of the places where we have traditionally done poorly in state testing.
Then, I have some communication goals that I would like to implement this year. A parent newsletter, I feel like our communication with the parents needs to be stepped up a little bit. Our theme for the year is “On the Rise,” so everything we’re going to be doing is on the rise. We have a community service goal for the students. We want to include community and school service in our everyday lives. We’re going to have the parent portal and the student portal be able to calculate your hours, and you guys can log them on a sheet with guidance. It’s not going to be required this year, but we’re hoping in the next couple of years we have a 10-hour minimum per year requirement. You would have 40 hours by the time you graduate, and that’s super important to me.
Finally, the goal is to battle the cell phone ban. It’s going to be challenging. We’re going to reiterate on the first day. No cell phones in the hallways. You guys can have them in the morning, up until the time that you go into class, and then you’re going to put them either in the cell phone holder or keep them in your bag or your backpack, depending on whatever your teacher wants you to do. No phones throughout the school day. We will see how it goes. We’re going to be consistent. We’re going to have consequences for the students who don’t adhere to the policy. I really feel that it is going to really help with the distraction. It’s going to improve instruction because you don’t have that distraction during the school day. It is going to improve your mental health because I really do think that social media takes a toll on people’s emotions. I’ll be scrolling through Instagram and just be like, “I got to put this down.” You’re getting things that are sad or emotional, or you’re looking at things, and you’re like, “Oh God, an Italy trip, I wish I was there.” I think all of that is going to help with no cell phones. It’s a state law so there is nothing I can do about it. However, if it wasn’t a state law, I still would be in support of it because I’m really not that I’m anti-cell phone, but I feel in school, especially during instruction, it is a distraction. I’ve talked to so many kids who have told me, “Mrs. Fazio, I do so much better in the classes that the teacher makes me put my phone away.” The difference is crazy. Those are all really great goals for this year.
Weingarten: What about your background has helped you prepare to be the principal of Old Bridge High School?
Mrs. Fazio: Oh, great question. So, a couple of things about my background. My role as mom is super important and now a grandmother. I’m excited about that. Just the nurturing piece when it comes to students, and that role as a mom has definitely helped. I also taught for 16 years, English to eighth graders at Sandberg. I have the teaching experience to be able to lead teachers and know where they’re coming from when I have to make decisions. Last but not least, prior to teaching, I got my degree in marketing. My initial degree is in marketing, and I worked for Revlon for a lot of years in their marketing and sales department. That corporate experience has given me the skills to be able to manage a building. There’s a difference between leading a building and managing a building, and I think a good principle needs both. They need to lead and manage. I feel like all three roles in my life, as a teacher, a mother, and working in corporate, have given me the skills I need to be, hopefully, a very effective and good principal.
Weingarten: What do you think the biggest challenge this year will be?
Mrs. Fazio: It’s just going to be cell phones. Without a doubt, it’s going to be cell phones. All the other things, like the community service and the school service, I could send out a message on Instagram or send out a team’s message and ask for student volunteers or something. I would have 100 of you guys here in a heartbeat out of the class. You know, if you could be here, you’d be here. “What can I help you with? What can we do?” I think, especially in your class, we’ve grown together since freshman year. You guys are very special to me for that reason. It’s the first class I had as freshman because it was the first time we were going down [to the EMGNC] and coming back up with you guys. You really are always going to hold a very special place in my heart for that reason. That part, the academic part, and the college opportunities, all of that, that part’s going to be easy.
The reason why cell phones are going to be hard is because it’s going to be a difficult separation. I think of the separation anxiety that little children have when they leave their mom or the school anxiety some kids have to come to school. There’s going to be that, and it’s going to be real. It will be like, “I need my phone.” That’s the part that’s going to be a challenge because I feel like we have to support those kids and help them. You don’t need your phone. It’s okay if you don’t scroll through and see your snap messages or scroll through TikTok. You don’t need to do that. It’s okay. There are people here who are going to help you and support you and nurture you. Put the phone away and embrace those people. That’s going to be the biggest challenge. But, listen, we’re ready; we’re here. We’re putting up TVs all over the building, so you’ll see them in the cafeteria and in Student Life. We’ll take a walk, actually, because I want to show you the totally revamped Student Life area.
Weingarten: What are you most looking forward to this year?
Mrs. Fazio: I can’t wait to see you guys again. I’m so excited about today because I’m going to see you all at the parking lot party. I miss everybody. It’s very weird still being in the building over the summer when you guys are not here. It’s just weird. Then, the seniors, that’s the other big thing. In the following year, I’m going to have a very hard time. I tell the seniors all the time when they’re leaving: they’re like “Oh, I’m going to miss everyone.” I was like, yeah, but you don’t know that we’re going to miss you more because we’re coming back here, and you’re not; you’re moving on. I can’t wait to see the teachers, and I can’t wait to see the kids and just have some life in this building. I want the life back
Weingarten: My last question is what is one thing you would like every student to know before going into this year?
Mrs. Fazio: You can do it without a cell phone. You can do it. You can. Just embrace the opportunities here. Put the cell phone away and embrace what Old Bridge high school has to offer, because this is a really special place.
Photos by Tim O’Neill
Posted on September 2, 2026
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