By Peter Elacqua
Staff Writer
The Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education has appointed administrators and teachers to a School Improvement Panel (ScIP) at each of the district’s six schools.
Information from the New Jersey Department of Education website states that, “Based upon the provisions of the TEACHNJ Act and AchieveNJ, every school must establish an ScIP whose role is to ensure, oversee and support the implementation of the district’s evaluation, professional development and mentoring policies at the school level. The ScIP also ensures that teachers have a strong voice and significant opportunity to help shape evaluation procedures within each school.”
The ScIP must include the school principal, an assistant/vice principal or a designee if the school does not have an assistant principal or a vice principal, and a teacher.
The board named the following individuals at each high school:
• Colts Neck High School – Principal Daniel Simon, Assistant Principal Brian Donahue and teacher Jennifer Guirguis
• Freehold High School – Principal Linda Jewell, Assistant Principal Jerrilynn Acevedo and teacher Katherine Rimakis
• Freehold Township High School – Principal Elizabeth Higley, Assistant Principal David Bleakley and teacher Efstratios Monafis
• Howell High School – Principal Jeremy Braverman, Assistant Principal Oscar Diaz and teacher Todd Curtis
• Manalapan High School – Principal Adam Angelozzi, Assistant Principal Lavetta Ross and teacher Lisa Boyce
• Marlboro High School – Principal Shaun Boylan, Assistant Principal Scott Liptzin and teacher Matthew Sauter
The ScIPs were initially required to be formed by Feb. 1, 2013. Each school is required to establish a panel by Aug. 31 of each year.
The Department of Education website states that, “In order to conduct observations for the purpose of evaluation, the teacher member must have the consent of the local teacher association to conduct observations, possess an administrative or supervisory certificate, and be assigned by the principal to conduct the observation.
“An ScIP teacher who conducts observations for the purpose of evaluation cannot serve as a mentor. Teachers on ScIPs will become ‘resident experts’ on evaluation policies and supports for other teachers. Teacher representatives will help to ensure open communication and opportunities for feedback among colleagues.”
Superintendent of Schools Charles Sampson said, “We have gone beyond the requirement, empowering these committees to steer professional learning that aligns state mandates with school goals and most importantly, our district strategic plan. In this way, we are not just complying with the mandates, but truly owning them.”
