Norman Torkelson has served as director of facilities since 1999. A former science teacher and one-time general contractor specializing in energy-efficient technologies, Mr. Torkelson came to Hopewell Valley from the Princeton Regional School District, where he held a similar position in the 1990s.
At Hopewell Valley he heads up a department of 46, including 33 custodians, six tradesmen and the four groundskeepers that maintain and groom landscaping at district schools and athletic fields. While maintenance and operations are a primary responsibility, Torkelson has earned state recognition for his efforts in promoting green building technologies in new construction as well as energy-efficient retrofits to the district’s historic schoolhouses. In 2008 he was given the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ coveted Educator of the Year Award, in part for his use of highly efficient heat recovery systems on classroom units in several schools. A leading edge technology, the systems win high marks from environmentalists because they are essentially recyclers, capturing the energy in the exhaust air produced by a heating and cooling unit and re-using it. The success of a pilot program in a few district schools has attracted state grants and persuaded district officials to expand it to all schools except the highly efficient Stony Brook Elementary School, built in 2002.
On Mr. Torkelson’s watch the district has installed two geothermal heating and cooling systems – Stony Brook Elementary School and the new wing at Timberlane Middle School, opened in 2008 – and two solar power systems. The 50 kw, rooftop systems are in place at Timberlane and Bear Tavern Elementary School. Mr. Torkelson has also promoted the use of green cleaning products in building maintenance operations and has supplied work crews with HEPA-rated vacuums to help improve indoor air quality at all district facilities.
Prior to working in facilities management, Mr. Torkelson headed his own general contracting company, Sundrive Inc., specializing in home construction with energy-efficient technologies. His first job was in the classroom, working as a science supervisor at the Kildonan School in Solebury, a residential program for students with learning disabilities.
A longtime resident of Stockton, he has served on the planning board there for the past 21 years.
Away from his job, Mr. Torkelson is a fly fisherman and avid bicyclist, logging as many as 4,000 miles per year on the road. He has participated in the Anchor House Ride for Runaways for many years.
Mr. Torkelson holds a bachelor’s degree in biology/environmental sciences from Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y. He is state-certified as an educational facilities manager and holds national certifications for building operation and playground inspection.
Born in Oakland, Calif. and raised in Summit, N.J., Mr. Torkelson resides in Stockton with his wife, Diane, a teacher of the gifted and talented at Hopewell Elementary. The couple has two grown daughters.
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