School's Out Forever

While summer recess has begun for some the remainder of the Ocean County schools will be finishing up this week. For students and most staff members it means the last days before summer recess but for many throughout our area it marks the end of a long journey as they will not be returning in September because they’re about to join the ranks of the retired.

When their careers began they could not imagine this day would come and I’m sure along the way some questioned if this was really the right thing to do with their lives. Yes teaching and education has plenty of positives but before you say that it’s easy try and imagine dealing with kids each day who are not your own. Whether it’s two dozen in an elementary school classroom, more than a hundred as a high school English teacher or the thousand plus you’re responsible for as a Principal each day brings challenges that us “outsiders” can’t imagine. Making things more difficult is the change in the make-up of the traditional family as well as the lack of support received from the home. Parents who used to be eager to get involved in their child’s education are just as likely today to question why they’re being bothered when it’s the school’s job to educate.

Despite this there are many who have dedicated their professional lives to education and helping prepare young people for the next step in their lives. Among them is Karen Tramontano who today walks in and out of the classroom for the final time in her 27-year career. It was about fifteen years ago that I received an invitation to be a “celebrity reader” for her 5th grade class at Clara B. Elementary School in Bayville. I was really impressed with the experience and told her afterwards….”call me again.” Well she has…every year since, the last few at the recently-opened Berkeley Township Elementary School. I knew when I walked in that classroom I would be greeted by children who were enthusiastic and well-behaved which was a credit to her as a teacher. But Mrs. Tramontano has decided to focus in on the growth of one child in particular so come September when her daughter, a kindergarten teacher, goes back to work she’ll be helping watch her new granddaughter Allison Faith.

I wish I had the time to salute all of those soon-to-be retirees but I don’t so you’ll have to share my thanks, congratulations and best wishes.