Administration
Margaret Murray
Principal
Meg Murray grew up in a military family, and lived all around the world. She attended the University of Illinois, where she pursued her love of literature and the power of language by studying English and Advertising. She also studied at Cambridge University and the University of Austria in Vienna, and later earned a Master of Education degree from Columbia University’s Teachers College.
While the military wasn’t something she wanted to pursue, she decided in college that she wanted to devote her life to the service of education. After college, she was accepted into Teach For America, and placed as an English teacher at East Side High School. She fell in love with teaching, and knew early on that this was where she was supposed to be. She served the students and staff of East Side for twenty years, as an English teacher, an English Department Chairperson, and as an Academic Vice Principal. She is forever grateful to the students and staff of East Side for raising her as an educator and as a leader.
Ms. Murray is thrilled to continue her service as Principal of American History High School, with a laser-focused mission to ensure that all students have access to exceptional educational experiences that will propel them into a choice-filled life. She believes that teaching and learning, at their best, are both joyful and rigorous, and she believes that teaching is a professional craft that should be intensely revered and celebrated.
The mission statement of American History High School ends with this statement: The shared efforts of students, parents, and staff will result in the development of life-long learners and productive citizens who advocate for social justice for ALL. Ms. Murray pledges to live these words by emphasizing student voice, building confidence, encouraging problem-solving, all while upholding kindness and joy, at American History High School every day.
Ms. Murray is the proud mother of Charlotte (8) and Frankie (3), and is married to Amy Christie, the Director of College Initiatives for Achievement First Schools.
Peter Salek-Nejad
Vice Principal: Operations and Student Services
Vice Principal Salek has been in the field of education since 2005, when he began working as a substitute teacher and paraprofessional. While he originally had other career aspirations, he quickly realized his passion for working with children, which led him to pursuing the alternate route program to obtain his teaching certification. While working as a classroom teacher for 10 years, he also earned a master’s degree in special education, and a second master’s in educational administration. In 2016, Mr. Salek began his career in school leadership, and has since served in the capacity of Vice Principal, Supervisor of Curriculum & Instruction, and Director of Special Programs. Having taught for the Newark Public Schools earlier in his career, Mr. Salek had a great desire to return to NPS and once again have the opportunity to serve students, families, and fellow staff members.
Mr. Salek is currently the Vice Principal of Operations and Student Services at American History High School. The experience he brings with him includes, but is not limited to, leading and evaluating all staff members in academic, student support, special education, and operations departments, developing master schedules, serving as a school and district test coordinator, coordinating Intervention & Referral Services (I&RS), coordinating credit recovery programs, and grant writing/management.
Angela Johnson
Department Chair: Social Studies and World Languages
Angela Johnson is a seasoned History educator with 17 years of classroom experience, including a decade of service at American History High School, where she has forged meaningful, lasting relationships with her students and colleagues. Known for her unwavering commitment to student growth and empowerment, Mrs. Johnson leads with purpose, vision, and a passion for developing the next generation of thinkers and leaders.
She earned her Bachelor’s degree in History and Secondary Education from William Paterson University, discovering her love for history unexpectedly in a Renaissance-era music course. What began as a spark of curiosity quickly grew into a lifelong mission: to help others uncover their own passions through the power of education. Since 2007, Mrs. Johnson has inspired students to use their voices with confidence, grounding her work in the belief that knowledge can change lives and communities.
In her pursuit of broader impact, Mrs. Johnson completed a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University in 2019. While she could have transitioned directly into administration, her dedication to students led her to remain in the classroom to lead from within and continue mentoring both students and educators. Her leadership is felt throughout the school as the Department Chairperson for Social Studies and World Languages, where she guides teachers and drives instructional excellence.
Beyond her professional achievements, Mrs. Johnson is a devoted wife and mother of two daughters, who motivate her to model integrity, resilience, and purpose every day.
Gerardo Valenzuela
Department Chair: Mathematics, Science, and Career & Technical Education (CTE)