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Administration

Dr. Lynnette Dortrait - Principal

Dr. Lynnette Dortrait

Principal

Dr. Lynnette Dortrait is excited to kick off her second year as Principal of McKinley Elementary School. She has been an educator for 19 years of which she spent 12 years teaching middle school language arts and five years as a Vice Principal. Dr. Dortrait served as a Vice Principal at Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School for three years. She received her bachelor’s degree from Rider University, and her master’s and doctoral degree from St. Peter’s University.

Dr. Dortrait is a proud sister of Lambda Theta Alpha, Latin Sorority Incorporated. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at Hudson County Community College where she teaches English Composition. Dr. Dortrait is of Cuban and Peruvian descent and is the proud daughter of immigrant parents. She has adopted the philosophy that education is a great equalizer that holds power in breaking socioeconomic barriers and providing opportunities for all students. Dr. Dortrait’s vision is to see McKinley Elementary School become a leader in providing an exceptional, world-class education where students love coming to school!

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Ms. Victoria Litterio

Vice Principal

Ms. Victoria Litterio has a track record of being a successful educator and serves in her most current role as one of the amazing Vice Principals at McKinley School. Ms. Litterio has her B.S. in Community Health from Hofstra University and her M.A. Ed. in Educational Leadership from St. Peter’s University, where she received High Honors. She is an educator who has over 16 years of experience in developing, teaching and managing hands-on, interactive, and experiential programming. Ms. Litterio specialized in science for 10 of those years and spent the last three years of her teaching career as the STEAM Lead where she has converted an unused Media Center to a fully-functioning STEAM Lab and raised over $250,000 in grant funds to support the STEAM Lab. She was also awarded NBC’s STEM Teacher of the Year in 2020.

Ms. Litterio is the proud daughter of immigrant parents. She was born and raised in Newark and Bloomfield. She is the proud mother of two amazing and supportive children. Outside of being an educator, Ms. Litterio is an avid reader who enjoys participating in a variety of sports.

She has been a part of many educational and community committees. She currently serves on the Newark STEAM Coalition as Co-Chair for the Aligning Education committee and is a part of the New Jersey Stem Pathways Network Early Education working group. Ms. Litterio lives by the following quote, “At the end of life, what really matters is not what we bought but what we built; not what we got but what we shared; not our competence but our character; and not our success, but our significance.”

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Dr. Rasheedah Saleem-Muhammad

Vice Principal

Dr. Saleem-Muhammad earned her Doctoral degree from Saint Peter’s University. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Kean University. Dr. Saleem-Muhammad received a Master's degree in Special Education from Kean University and a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Seton Hall University.
Dr. Saleem-Muhammad was born, raised, and educated in the great city of Newark. She served as an Early Interventionist for over 17 years. Working with babies from birth to three years old with special needs gives her great pleasure. Additionally, she has been an educator for over 19 years with the Newark Board of Education. She has taught in two different elementary schools in Newark: Camden Elementary Street and First Avenue School. Dr. Saleem-Muhammad is an agent of change and passionate about serving others. She sits on the executive board for Girls Live, Love, Laugh, Inc., a girls' mentoring program. Also, Dr. Saleem-Muhammad is a proud member of the National Sorority of Pi Delta Kappa, Delta Pi Chapter.
Dr. Saleem-Muhammad became a Vice Principal at McKinley Elementary School because she wanted to make a change; she is invested in the students, staff, and families. Dr. Saleem-Muhammad strongly believes in promoting students with a high-quality education despite their zip code. She works hard to ensure our students become productive citizens.
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Ms. Jacqueline Santos

Vice Principal

Ms. Santos is a passionate and motivated educational leader. She has a thorough understanding and hands on experience of what it takes to educate, guide and lead. She received a BA in Sociology from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2012, an MA in Teaching in 2016, and an MA in Educational Leadership in 2024; both from Montclair State University. In 2012 Ms. Santos began her professional career in education in the great city of Newark. 

Her trajectory has been one of consistent expansion. She began as an Ameri Corps volunteer at Chancellor Avenue School, a paraprofessional, a special education teacher, summer literacy coach to a vice principal at Mckinley Elementary School. She believes in championing and nurturing the whole child as we guide them towards success. Ms. Santos has become a vice principal at Mckinley Elementary School because she believes in the power of an equitable and rich education, as we meet the unique needs of every student. Championing our students, teachers and school community at large is extremely important to Ms. Santos. Her dedication and hard work within education is guided by the belief: “I celebrate teaching that enables transgressions - a movement against and beyond boundaries. It is that movement which makes education the practice of freedom” -Bell Hooks.

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Mr. Paul Vander Wende

Vice Principal

Mr. Paul Vander Wende is entering his 16th year in education. A lifelong resident and graduate of the public school system in Paterson, New Jersey, he brings the experience of living and working in urban environments. Mr. Vander Wende is a graduate of William Paterson University, where he earned his B.A. in History and Secondary Education as well as his Master’s in Educational Leadership.
Mr. Vander Wende brings 15 years of experience in education. He spent the first 11 years as a history teacher in the alternative setting in Paterson. The next four years were spent in educational leadership as Vice Principal. The decision to move beyond the classroom was made with the intent to have an even greater impact on the schools he served. Mr. Vander Wende believes that all students deserve the opportunity to blossom in their own way and that no one should be denied a second chance to better themselves.