School Staff Welcomed Back for 2023-2024 School Year
Warren Township Public Schools
After a very productive summer, Warren Township Schools kicked off the 2023-2024 school year by inviting the forty-plus new hires to participate in the New Staff Induction Program (NSIP) led by Christine Smith and Stacey Hann-Modugno on August 23 and 24. On August 28, Superintendent Dr. Matthew Mingle hosted approximately four hundred and thirty staff at Warren Middle School to deliver his convocation speech. The overarching theme of the NSIP and Dr. Mingle’s Welcome Back program undoubtedly focused on “belonging.”
Mingle highlighted this year’s focus areas outlined in the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, which included improvements/updates to Competencies, Equity & Consistency, and Health, Wellness, & Safety. Specifically, the district will be particularly interested in ELA, Math, Social Emotional Competencies, Cultural Proficiency among staff, Student Belonging, Warren Middle School Culture, Capital Planning and Safety and Security.
Mingle included special messages and stories from the hit Broadway musical Come From Away. The story is based on the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, that led to American airspace being closed and 38 planes from around the world being diverted to Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, Canada, essentially stranding seven thousand very anxious people.
This year, Mingle invited Mr. Kevin Tuerff, a passenger onboard a flight diverted to Gander, to speak with the entire staff. Tuerff, whose story is featured in Come From Away, gave a powerful first-hand narrative of his experience on that unforgettable day and how the people of Gander embraced him and thousands of other “come from aways.” In what may have been the scariest situation of his life, Tuerff instead recalls being shown love, compassion, and generosity from perfect strangers.
Tuerff has since published a book titled Channel of Peace: Stranded in Gander on 9/11 and founded the Pay It Forward 9/11 Kindness Charity inspired by the townspeople of Gander. Pay It Forward 9/11 sets out to help develop communities where harmony grows through individual “pay it forward” actions and the ripple effect they cause.
Board President David Brezee also shared his experience working in New York City on 9/11 and, like Tuerff, Brezee recalls perfect strangers going out of their way to help him commute from back to Watchung, NJ. Brezee and his wife, Christine, have since visited the 9/11 memorial in Warren Township to share their experience with their four children.
Mingle concluded the morning by introducing two district initiatives to ensure that each student and staff member feels welcomed into the Warren Township community, regardless of where they come from.
During the 2022-2023 school year, district officials partnered with parents and community members to launch the OneWarren initiative. The mission of OneWarren is to promote a sense of unity and belonging throughout the community. The work of OneWarren will continue into the 2023-2024 school year. The committee is currently looking to connect new community members with mentor families. If interested, please e-mail OneWarren@warrentboe.org
Lastly, Mingle, along with Warren Middle School Principal George Villar and Assistant Principal Maria Mensinger, will pilot a transformative leadership program called Harmony, inspired by the heartwarming stories of Gander. The program is designed to empower middle school students in Warren Township to cultivate compassion, embrace diversity, and foster unity within their school community.
Photos by Warren Township Public Schools
