Golda Och to honor principal on retirement

Golda Och Academy will honor Dr. Alison Grann, Dr. David Gutstein, and lower school principal Gloria Kron at its annual Spring Gala on Thursday, May 22, at Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston. The theme will be STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education.

Grann and Gutstein have been parent leaders and supporters of the school for the past 14 years.

Grann, the chair of the Radiation Oncology Department at St. Barnabas Medical Center, is a long-time advocate of community efforts to support cancer patients. She has been honored by the American Cancer Society Diamond Ball and the Doctors Division of State of Israel Bonds. At GOA she has served as a member of the development committee and as an annual campaign volunteer.

Gutstein, a cardiologist and executive director at Merck, also maintains a volunteer practice in cardiac imaging at NYU Medical Center. As a full-time faculty member at the NYU School of Medicine, he opened his lab to several summer high school interns. At GOA, he served as a board of trustees member for eight years and as treasurer. He also is a guest lecturer in life sciences at the upper school.

Kron, who will retire at the end of the 2013-14 school year, began at the school 34 years ago as a third-, fourth-, and-fifth-grade teacher and went on to serve as general studies curriculum coordinator, assistant principal, and, for the last nine years, principal. She has had a significant impact on GOA’s academic excellence and expanded opportunities for recess enrichment clubs, Funtracks after-school program, musical instrument instruction, and the GOA Band. She added academic competitions, including the Math League and Scripps Spelling Bee, and was integrally involved with the renovation of the Wilf Lower School campus.

All the honorees, said board chair Sheryl Pearlstein, “have made a major impact on the success and future of our school.”

To RSVP or place an ad in the dinner journal, visit GoldaOchAcademy.org/Gala or call Stephanie Bash-Soudry at 973-602-3612.