Coaches named to Hall of Fame
In December, two coaches were honored for their amazing accomplishments at Ocean County College and inducted into the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
CRSD staffulty member
Steve Stout coached the swim team at Ocean County College for numerous years. In 2009, the team claimed the Non-Scholarship National Championship for men and women.
CRSD staffulty member
Mary Kate Sullivan was also honored for her stellar career at Ocean County College where she was named All American in 2013 and 2014. In 2014 she was voted Junior
Students Enjoy Attendance Rally
Central Regional students enjoyed an attendance pep rally at the high school in December and will attend another one at the end of January.
The rally recognizes the importance of having a strong school attendance record. Students who attend school the day of the rally will
be entered into a raffle to receive prizes. The rally featured lots of music including “Celebrate” by Kool & The Gang, Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” Four winners are selected at each assembly to win gift cards, and 10 students were selected for a chance to play cornhole and win $100.
Central Regional
#WE R CR
Staffulty of the Month
Click here to nominate a staffulty member for CRSD’s Staffulty of the Month!
Click here to nominate a staffulty member for the National Jostens Renaissance Staffulty of the Month Award!
Newsletter Submissions
If you would like to share some information or a story for the Golden Eagle Gazette such as a newsworthy event, an innovative lesson in your classroom, club news, etc., please email Allison Freeman at afreeman@laura-bishop.com.
THANK YOU, CENTRAL REGIONAL BOARD OF EDUCATION
As we observe New Jersey School Board Appreciation Month, we would just like to bring your attention to the hard work and dedication of our board of education.
Each member, regardless of their family commitments and work schedule, dedicates themselves to hours and hours of serving our community, working to make our schools better, attending board and committee meetings and whatever else is asked of them.
Swim TeamS Prevail aT Ocean cOunTy chamPiOnShiPS
The Central Regional High School Boys and Girls Swim Teams made a big splash at the recent Ocean County Championships. Here are some highlights:
• In a very tight meet, the boys placed 2nd overall in the county.
• Drew Westhoven was named "Swimmer of the Meet" as he is the only swimmer in the county to be County Champion in all 4 of his events: The 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 Free Relay, & 400 Free Relay. Congratulations Drew!
• Chase Corbett was the County Champion in the 500 Freestyle.
• Aidan Wenzel, Kaden Stout, Chase Corbett, and Drew Westhoven were the County Champions in both the 200 Freestyle Relay and 400 Freestyle Relay.
• The girls' team placed 3rd overall in the county.
• Ella Westhoven was the County Champion in the 100 Freestyle.
• Graceanna Rizzo, Danica Barron, Amelia Wenzel, and Ella Westhoven placed 2nd in the 400 Freestyle Relay.
Board of Education: Louis Tuminaro
Mr. Tuminaro was elected as the Central Regional Board of Education president at the board’s January reorganization meeting.
Q: How long have you served on the board of education?
A: I have served for nine years.
Q: What do you do professionally?
A: I am an equipment trainer with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Q: Do you have children and what are their names and grades?
A: I have two sons, Anthony, who is 20 years old, and Vincent, who is 17 and a senior at Central Regional High School.
Q: Why did you run for the board of education?
A: I ran for the Central Regional Board of Education to ensure that our schools provide the best possible education and opportunities for our children. I believe in the importance of community involvement and wanted to contribute positively to our educational system.
BASKETBALL DONATION
Our Central Regional students teamed up with the nonprofit organization Tackle Depression to hand out 50 basketballs ahead of our Central Regional Boys Basketball opening night win against Lenape on Dec. 17.
Q: Which committees do you serve on?
A: As Board President you get to sit on every committee, but the last two years I was the chair for the buildings and grounds committee.
Q: How have you helped make a difference at CRSD?
A: I actively participate in school events, volunteering my time to support students and staff, advocating for positive changes within the district, joining committees focused on improvements or raising awareness about important issues impacting the school community.
Q: What are your top priorities for the 2024-25 school year?
A: My top priorities are creating a safe and supportive environment for students and teachers, helping them develop skills for college and careers and creating opportunities for families and the community to be involved with the learning process.
Q: What are your top priorities as board president?
A: Some of my top priorities would be ensuring that all students receive a quality education and that their needs are met and providing support to parents through communication and programs. Also, I want to ensure that there is clear and transparent communication between the school district and the community, and I want to work to prevent bullying and create a safe environment for students and teachers.
Q: What town do you live in?
A: Bayville.
Central Regional Middle School partners with Tigger Stavola Foundation to educate students about dangers of vaping
As part of Central Regional School District’s commitment to health and wellness, the district partnered with the Tigger Stavola Foundation to teach students a powerful lesson about the risks of vaping and dangerous behaviors.
Sponsored by the Tigger Stavola Foundation (TSF), the event featured Robb Holla, a vetted speaker from the Foundation’s portfolio who promotes drug and alcohol prevention through presentations. The Tigger Stavola Foundation, based in Red Bank, was founded in 2013 to honor Richard Stavola, Jr., lovingly nicknamed “Tigger,” who lost his life to an accidental overdose at the young age of 25. The Stavola family and its foundation persevere to fight addiction, spread awareness, and save lives through drug prevention education.
Holla, a powerhouse speaker, author, and youth motivator, is working to change the lives of students across North America by educating them about the dangers of vaping. He addressed 250 seventh and eighth grade students at Central Regional Middle School on Jan. 13. Holla shares precautionary tales through high-energy, transformative assemblies.
In his presentation at the middle school, Holla spoke against vaping, empowering young people to break through the obstacles that stand in their way.
Students said they learned how one poor decision can change the direction of their lives and about the dangers of vaping and how easy it is to get addicted.
“I learned that vaping is not a better alternative to smoking cigarettes,” one student remarked. “I know smoking is bad for you, but vaping is worse than cigarettes!”
CRMS Assistant Principal Gabrielle Carney expressed pride in the school district’s commitment to student well-being. “We are grateful to the Tigger Stavola Foundation for bringing speaker Robb Holla to our school," Carney said. “We are very grateful to the foundation for providing this invaluable lesson to our students.”
CRMS Psychologist Maeve Burg said that the presentation engaged students in active learning situations while covering impactful information about the dangers of vaping. “He reminded them that one choice can change your life,” she said.
Holla will return to the Central Regional School District on Feb. 13 to present to Central Regional High School students.
Superintendent Dr. Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder thanked TSF for funding the presentation, which falls in line with her health and wellness initiatives implemented across the district since she became superintendent. CarneyRay-Yoder has made the health and wellness of students a top priority for her administration.
“I want to personally thank the Tigger Stavola Foundation and Mr. Holla for educating our students about the consequences of making poor choices as well as the dangers of vaping, which can have a negative impact on their health,” she said.
Students Compete in Square Dancing Competition
Central’s physical education students recently competed in a school-wide annual Square Dance Competition. This unit and competition have been a long-standing tradition at CRHS, and the music used is a live recording from years ago when a square dance caller came to Central to call the songs, according to health and physical education teacher Lauren Koenig.
Students form squares in groups of eight at the beginning of the unit and work together over three weeks to try to qualify for the competition. The dancers learn moves like swing, do-si-do, ladies and men's chains, grand square, and more, Koenig said. “As the lessons progressed, the classes were set in their squares for a friendly competition, where students showcased their newfound skills in lively, spirited square dances,” she said.
Students competed in their individual gym periods to qualify for the finals, with more than 300 students making it to the big competition, Koenig said. “The culmination of hard work and practice was an exciting showdown, with each group bringing their own flair to the classic dances.”
Groups even dressed up in their own creative themes including Santa and reindeer, Minions and Gru, founding fathers, the Wizard of Oz, Ninja Turtles, lifeguards, Mario Kart, and more, she said. “These students worked on their rhythm, teamwork, cooperation, and confidence while having fun dancing with each other.”
Central Regional School District Baseball Field Named Field of the Year in New Jersey
The Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey (SFMANJ) has recognized Central Regional School District's (CRSD) Al Kunzman Baseball Field at Al Leiter Ballpark as its Field of the Year.
This same varsity baseball field was previously named Field of the Year by the national Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) in 2022. CRSD Supervisor of Grounds Keith Fisher, who formerly worked in field maintenance for the New York Yankees and several area minor league baseball teams began his career at CRSD in 2021.
“This is amazing,” he said. “This is one of the top awards that you can get.”
Retired Mets and Yankees pitcher Al Leiter, a CRSD alum, donated funds to renovate the district’s field in 2020 after visiting with his son. After the renovations were completed, the school called the field Al Kunzman Field at Al Leiter Ballpark. Kunzman was a legendary coach who also coached Leiter, Fisher said.
Leiter and his three brothers all played varsity baseball at CRSD. His nephew Cam Leiter, a 2022 alum, also played and struck out 90 batters in his final season.
After Leiter’s donation, Fisher said he worked to make the field as professional looking as possible. “We redid the mounds, installed a new infield mix which is the same mix used by 30 major league teams, and created the warning track” made of crushed red stone.
Fisher drew on his professional experiences as an assistant groundskeeper for the New York Yankees in the 2014 season to achieve this. He has also worked for the Jersey Shore Blue Claws and the Atlantic City Surf. He later worked for several school districts in addition to CRSD.
Other work included the reconstruction of the pitcher’s mound and batter’s boxes and the regrading and resodding of the outfield.
Fisher said he and his CRSD professional team work to keep the field in the best condition possible. “The award is also about the crew,” he said. “Without the staff that I have and their help, I would not be able to achieve this award.”
His staff includes groundskeepers Frank Burlew and
Robert Lovenstein, both who have worked with him at the district for 28 and 30 years respectively, and newer groundskeepers David Kuryla and Damon Wiencke. “I have a great collection of guys,” he said. “We aerate and overseed and really transform the fields to bring them up to a professional level.”
Athletic Director John Scran said that the award is well-deserved. “Within the Central Regional School District, we take great pride in our academics as well as our extra-curricular activities,” he said.
When Leiter approached the district about donating money to update the sports facilities, he also suggested that the district hire a sports field manager, Scran said. “As the Athletic Director, I have seen beautiful grass fields built, but within a couple of years, they will once again become just another field unless you have the right person behind the scenes.”
So, the district hired Fisher, the athletic director said, adding Fisher “keeps the school district's grounds beautiful and the sports complexes in pristine condition. Mr. Fisher goes above and beyond to make sure the school district's athletics fields are top notch. He displays his passion for sports and his care for the student athletes through the pride he takes in the preparation and maintenance of the athletic families at Central Regional.”
Superintendent Dr. Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder commended Fisher for receiving the award. “At Central Regional, we take great pride in our athletic teams and in the fields that they play on,” she said. “We are thrilled to receive this award and feel that it is well-deserved as Mr. Fisher and his team of groundskeepers do a remarkable job keeping our fields in impeccable condition.”
Central Regional Recognized with 2025 District of Distinction - Award Presented in Health & Wellness Category
The Central Regional School District was recognized as a 2025 District of Distinction at the District Administration’s National Awards Program on Dec. 18 in Naples, Fl.
The award, in the Safety & Wellness Category, was presented to the district for its 2023-24 Health & Wellness Initiative focusing on mental health, safety and resilience in response to a community tragedy. Central Regional was the only winning district in New Jersey.
“This has been an amazing first year as superintendent at Central,” said Superintendent Dr. CarneyRay-Yoder after accepting the award. “I love the fact that our students are seen, loved, and heard, and that is something that we are trying to do every day for everyone in our community.”
CarneyRay-Yoder attended the District Administration Leadership Institute Superintendent Summit (DALISS) in Naples, Fla. and the District Administration’s National Awards ceremony honoring outstanding K-12 school districts and visionary leaders across the nation. The District of
Distinction Award was presented in seven categories to seven school districts from across the country.
“Dr. CarneyRay-Yoder has really taken the district to a higher level especially with student and staff which is so important,” said Board of Education President Susan Cowdrick. “The board appreciates all she has implemented to keep our children and staff safe. Mental health issues are paramount, and it is crucial for students to be able to get the help that they need 24 hours a day.”
Hockey Elves Deliver Gifts
The CRHS Hockey teams made the holidays brighter for children living at a local shelter.
The teams, which visit the shelter every holiday season, dress up as elves to accompany Santa Claus, played by senior captain Patty Florek, to deliver 60 gifts and stockings to less fortunate children.
Athletic Director John Scran said he was very proud of the players and their efforts to make the holidays more special for these children. “Our hockey players understand that memories are made both on and off the ice,” he said.
Central Regional Unified Basketball Shines Bright!
The Central Regional Unified team played the first ever basketball game against Brick Memorial celebrating our athletes’ spirit, determination and teamwork.
This game exemplified what Unified sports is all about: Unified Sports is a Special Olympics program that combines people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same sports teams.
The goal of Unified Sports is to promote friendship, understanding, and inclusion. Both teams had a
blast playing in front of a crowd that filled the bleachers, including cheerleaders and the band! There were various classes who joined in to cheer but the loudest group was the support of our Unified Club at the middle school! Everyone cheered for success on the court. Coach Jennie Murphy and the 16-member team took to the floor with speed and pride for the Golden Eagles. They defeated the Brick Memorial Mustangs 54-46 on Jan. 18.
Thank you to everyone who supported our students and celebrated inclusion, sportsmanship,
Class of 2027 Basketball Fundraiser
The Central Regional Middle School Staffulty faced the High School Staffulty in a fun-filled basketball game at the high school Dec. 13 to raise money for the class of 2027. A few staff from the sending districts of Berkeley, Ocean Gate and Island Heights also participated in the special fundraiser.
Superintendent Dr. Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder was the referee for the game.
Alumni Spotlight
Kelley Butler
Q: What year did you graduate from Central Regional High School?
A: 1976.
Q: What is your favorite memory from CRSD?
A: I enjoyed the trip to Bermuda with marine biology teacher Herman Cooper.
Q: What did you enjoy most about the Central experience?
A: Back then, we had six sending districts and I had friends all over.
Q: Who was your favorite teacher and why?
A: I liked Mr. Thompson because we played History Jeopardy every Friday.
Q: Did you feel your years at Central inspired you to pursue your career?
A: Yes. I am retired now, but I had my own mural painting business.
Q: What is your most proud accomplishment?
A: I am proud that I started the Central Regional Alumni Association 20 years ago.
Q: Where did you attend college/ university?
A: Hooper University.
Q: Can you tell us anything interesting about yourself?
A: I grew up in Bayville and still live there. I had two children attend Central. I still love Bayville, I am presently curating the Berkeley Township Historical Society Museum.
Middle School Students Learn About Recycling
Central Regional Middle School science students learned all about the importance of recycling and protecting our environment at a special assembly on Jan. 15.
Representatives from the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management educated students about recycling, composting and the processes involved in each of these Earth-saving measures. Ms. Sandra, Ms. Tamara, and Ms. Margaret told students how the plastic, paper, metal, glass and cardboard we place in our recycling containers is collected and transported to the Solid Waste Management facility in Lakewood.
The facility relies on a combination of humans, AI and robotics to sort the recyclables before they are sold to companies that use the recycled material to make new products such as carpeting, bottles, and paper products.
Students were interested in the “vermicompost bin,” where worms are mixed in with fruit and vegetable scraps, water, and strips of newspaper to decompose or “compost” the food material, which is then used in gardens and added to soil.
At CRMS, Mrs. Lozada and Mrs. Ryan said they would like to start a GREEN TEAM that will help the school focus on being more cognizant of recycling our paper and plastics. The plan is to start a composting program in our cafeteria soon. This is all part of Central’s efforts to become a part of a more “Sustainable NJ.” CRMS Parent Alisa Capuano is assisting with the effort.
Remember to save plastic bottle caps for a spring project and see Mrs. Lozada to join the Green team.
If you are interested in being a member of the CRMS Green Team, listen to the announcements for the date of our 1st interest meeting or see Mrs. Lozada!
Musicfest is looking for students and staff to share their talent and take the stage at the 2025 MusicFest on Friday, March 21.
All styles and genres of music are welcome. Professional lights and sound will be provided. If you are interested, please email mmastropierro@centralreg.k12.nj.us.
The event is sponsored by the Central Regional Education Foundation. Proceeds will benefit the Bone Marrow Transplant Division of the John Theurer Cancer Center and the middle school music budget.
Central Regional Middle School Presents “Alice
in Wonderland”
Our talented MTMS students gave audiences a chance to step through the looking glass with their production of Alice in Wonderland, over the weekend. The shows on the 17th and 18th transformed the high school stage into a slice of Wonderland. The two performances were well received, and our students did a wonderful job transforming our high school stage into a wonderland! Way to go CRMS students!
UnIfiEd FoOtBaLl SpORts FuN
On Nov. 15, the Central Regional Middle School and High School Unified Clubs played in a Unified Flag Football game against Brick Memorial High School. The game took place on the Brick Memorial High School football field and was a great display of inclusion and sportsmanship.
Unified sports bring athletes with and without intellectual disabilities together to play in sports competitions all while having fun TOGETHER. It was truly a spectacular day for Unified Sports!
January Staffulty of the Month
Lauren
Mastronardi High School English Teacher
Q: How long have you worked in the district, and have you worked in other roles?
A: This is my 10th year teaching at Central Regional.
Q: Do you coach any sports or advise any clubs or groups?
A: I am the assistant coach for fall and winter cheerleading and co-advisor for the Class of 2026.
Q: What is your favorite thing about working at Central Regional?
A: One of the most rewarding aspects of working at CRHS is connecting with my students and building meaningful relationships with them. It is also incredibly fulfilling to work alongside colleagues who were once my teachers, as they were the ones who inspired me to pursue a career in education.
Q: What is the most challenging thing about your position?
A: The most challenging part of my role as a high school English teacher is creating lessons that are both engaging and effective for a diverse group of learners. It takes careful planning to design activities and materials that resonate with different interests, skill levels, and learning styles. However, I see this challenge as an exciting part of the job. It allows me to be creative, constantly refine my approach, and ensure that my students are not only learning but also enjoying the process.
Q: Can you share something fun about yourself?
A: I can quote every episode of my favorite TV show, “Friends.” As Ross Geller would say, “we were on a break!” Except when it comes to “Friends” trivia—I'm never on a break!
Dereke
Brown Middle School Custodian
Q: What is your favorite thing about working at Central Regional?
A: This is the best job that I have ever had in my life. I enjoy seeing all the children and we have a garden that we started. There are a few teachers involved that are going to bring the students to plant the seeds and watch them grow. I am excited to help with the garden as it will be really nice.
Q: What is the most challenging thing about your position?
A: It is challenging just being there every day doing my job.
Q: How long have you worked in the district, and have you worked in other roles?
A: I have worked at Central for a little over a year. I also assist the grounds crew and help out at the high school.
Q: Can you share something fun about yourself?
A: I like music and I like to sing. I recently joined a community choir called The Island Singers. I am also going to take saxophone lessons as I would like to perform with a band. My daughter went to Central and graduated in 1992.