Superintendent Appoints Dr. PJ Wax Principal of Western Middle School

Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones announced today the appointment of Dr. PJ Wax III as principal of Western Middle School, effective July 1. Dr. Wax replaces Mr. Gordon Beinstein who announced in January that he is retiring at the end of the school year. Dr. Wax will oversee all of WMS’ programs that meet the needs of its students with a strong focus on academic, personal, and interpersonal growth. 

“Greenwich Public Schools continues to be the premiere destination for educators and administrators in our region as more than 60 candidates vied for this position,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Toni Jones said. “Dr. Wax was recognized by the interview committee, consisting of GPS teachers, parents, and senior administrators, as the right person to lead Western Middle School.”

Dr. Wax comes to GPS from Stamford Public School’s Westhill High School where he has served as an assistant principal since 2012. As assistant principal for one of the largest and most diverse schools in the State of Connecticut, he has created opportunities for students and staff to expand their horizons. During his tenure at Westhill, Dr. Wax has supervised nearly every department, Dr. Wax supported Special Education students and families through the PPT and 504 processes, chaired numerous committees, utilized data from both the district and school levels to implement interventions through the Response to Intervention process to help support student success, and worked to close the achievement gap amongst diverse student populations. In his time at Westhill, Dr. Wax worked with all grade levels, including directly overseeing the ninth grade class where he focused on building a strong bridge from eighth grade. Most recently, he forged a partnership with Manhattanville College’s Changing Suburbs Institute establishing Westhill as the first Professional Development School outside of Westchester County. He has earned accolades working with English Language Learners, most recently, focusing his doctoral dissertation on “A Program Evaluation of an English Learner Acquisition Program in a Public, Urban High School in Connecticut.”

"I am so proud to be named as the next principal of Western Middle School and thrilled to be part of a school culture that prioritizes student well-being, offers a range of extracurricular activities, and supports personal growth and development,” Dr. Wax said. “I am impressed with the highly qualified and dedicated teachers, the diverse student population, and strong sense of community at Western and cannot wait to begin.”

Prior to his time as an administrator at Westhill HS, Dr. Wax was a social studies teacher for 17 years at Our Lady of Sorrows School in White Plains, NY, West Rocks Middle School in Norwalk, Walter Panas HS in Cortlandt Manor, NY, and Fairfield Ludlowe HS. 

Dr. Wax earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/History, from Manhattanville College and a Master of Science in Education, Intermediate Administrative and Supervision Certification (092), Sixth Year Degree in Educational Leadership, and Educational Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Bridgeport.