# Frank Napier

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**Frank Napier Jr.**[1] (August 8, 1935[1] – October 28, 2002)[2] was an American educator who served as superintendent of the [Paterson School District](/source/Paterson_Public_Schools) in [Paterson, New Jersey](/source/Paterson,_New_Jersey).[3][4][5] In the 1980s, he received national recognition as superintendent through [Joe Louis Clark](/source/Joe_Louis_Clark), the notable and controversial former principal of [Eastside High School](/source/Eastside_High_School_(Paterson,_New_Jersey)). It was Napier who asked Clark to be the principal of Eastside High.[6] Napier was portrayed by [Robert Guillaume](/source/Robert_Guillaume) in the 1989 film, *[Lean on Me](/source/Lean_on_Me_(film))*.[7][8][9]

## Biography

Napier graduated from [Paterson Central High School](/source/Paterson_Central_High_School) (since renamed as [John F. Kennedy High School](/source/John_F._Kennedy_High_School_(Paterson,_New_Jersey))) in 1953.[1] He earned his [Bachelor of Science](/source/Bachelor_of_Science) and [Master of Arts](/source/Master_of_Arts) degrees from [William Paterson University](/source/William_Paterson_University) and the [University of Massachusetts Amherst](/source/University_of_Massachusetts_Amherst) conferred a [Doctorate of Education](/source/Doctorate_of_Education) degree upon him.[1] Napier began his professional career in the Paterson school system as an elementary school teacher and coach. He was later a vice principal and then a principal.[1] In 1972, Napier was appointed Assistant Superintendent of the Paterson school district.[1] In 1976, he became the first [African-American](/source/African-American) to be superintendent of the Paterson school district.[1][2] He was ousted as superintendent in 1991.[2]

He served as an adjunct professor at [William Paterson University](/source/William_Paterson_University).[1] He was also a counselor for the [Passaic County Community College](/source/Passaic_County_Community_College) EOF Program.[1] Napier was a member of the [Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development](/source/Association_for_Supervision_and_Curriculum_Development).[1] He was also a member of the [William Paterson College](/source/William_Paterson_College) Alumni Association.[1] Napier was also a life member of the Paterson branch of the [NAACP](/source/NAACP) and the District Chairman of the [Passaic](/source/Passaic_County,_New_Jersey) [Boy Scouts of America](/source/Boy_Scouts_of_America).[1]

Napier was [Baptist](/source/Baptist).[1] He was married to Margaret E. Nottingham and they had three children: David, Darren and Dina.[1] Napier died on October 28, 2002, at the age of 67.[2] The cause of death was [respiratory failure](/source/Respiratory_failure).[2]

There is a school, Dr. Frank Napier, Jr. School of Technology, that is named after him.[10][11]

## References

1. ["Rev. Dr. Frank Napier, Jr."](http://www.braggfuneralhome.com/obituary/Rev.-Dr.-Frank-Napier-Jr./Paterson-NJ/138695). *Carnie P. Bragg Funeral Homes, Inc.*. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

1. Cichowski, John (30 October 2002). ["Frank Napier, 67; Paterson educator"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160911094611/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-69198914.html). *[The Record (Bergen County)](/source/The_Record_(Bergen_County))*. Archived from [the original](https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-69198914.html) on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

1. Lentz, Philip (26 March 1989). ["Joe Clark's Fame Marred By Squabbling, Less-supportive Figures"](https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/03/26/joe-clarks-fame-marred-by-squabbling-less-supportive-figures/). *[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)*. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

1. ["Tough Principal Joe Clark Is In Another Controversy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160103134019/http://articles.philly.com/1989-03-11/news/26127390_1_suspension-marks-joe-clark-frank-napier). [Philly.com](/source/Philly.com). 11 March 1989. Archived from [the original](http://articles.philly.com/1989-03-11/news/26127390_1_suspension-marks-joe-clark-frank-napier) on January 3, 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

1. Hanley, Robert (23 March 1990). ["New Jersey Acts To Take Over School System"](https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/23/nyregion/new-jersey-acts-to-take-over-school-system.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

1. Acquaviva, Michael A. (20 March 1990). ["Educator's book is a good study in crisis management"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19900320&id=_ZMcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mWMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6904,2692249&hl=en). *[Pittsburgh Press](/source/Pittsburgh_Press)*. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

1. Galbraith, Jane (31 January 1989). ["Review: 'Lean on Me'"](https://variety.com/1989/film/reviews/lean-on-me-1200428084/). *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

1. ["Morgan Freeman and Robert Guillame star in 'Lean on Me': The story about the controversial high school principal Joe Clark"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2205&dat=19890218&id=_6klAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HvUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2657,1566385&hl=en). *[Baltimore Afro-American](/source/Baltimore_Afro-American)*. 18 February 1989. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

1. Miller, Wendy (4 April 1989). ["*Lean on Me* supports Freeman's talent only"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=943&dat=19890404&id=uKFPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OlMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6751,3280558&hl=en). Mohave Daily Miner. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

1. Brody, Leslie (6 January 2013). ["Paterson school offers signs of hope in urban school reform"](http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/paterson-school-offers-signs-of-hope-in-urban-school-reform-1.376404). [NorthJersey.com](/source/NorthJersey.com). Retrieved 23 May 2016.

1. Cohen, Noah (15 October 2015). ["Paterson elementary school closed Friday following fire"](http://www.nj.com/passaic-county/index.ssf/2015/10/crews_respond_to_fire_at_paterson_elementary_schoo.html). *[NJ.com](/source/NJ.com)*. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Frank Napier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Napier) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Napier?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.