Central Regional High School and Middle School Named Jostens Renaissance Schools of Distinction
Central Regional High School and Central Regional Middle School have been named Gold Level Jostens Renaissance Schools of Distinction for 2025. The honor represents each school’s dedication to building a positive school climate and culture for students.
The Jostens Renaissance School of Distinction designation was created to celebrate those schools that are making a positive impact on their school climate and culture through executing the Jostens Renaissance formula: Respect + Recognize + Reward + Reinforce + Relationships = Results.
Central Regional School District Superintendent Dr. Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder has made improving the culture and climate of the school district a top priority since joining the district in January 2024. She created a culture and climate within the district where every student is loved, seen and heard. This philosophy translates to the district’s employees, who are collectively referred to as “staffulty,” placing them all on equal footing and as part of the same team driving the positive culture in the district.
“Our staffulty at both schools has built an outstanding culture and climate where students feel like they belong, are supported and encouraged, and can thrive academically and socially,” Dr. CarneyRay-Yoder said. “This achievement is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our staffulty but the real winners are the students.”
The School of Distinction designation was achieved by 140 schools across North America and demonstrates the highest level of accomplishment. To reach this level, schools implemented strategies in eight or more separate areas and described and documented their successes through a rigorous application process. Silver is the lowest level, with the fewest requirements, then Gold, and then Platinum, which is the ultimate level of recognition a school can receive from Jostens Renaissance. More information is available at www.jostensrenaissance. com/2025-schools-of-distinction/
"Jostens is honored to recognize our Renaissance Schools of Distinction," said Sara Sausker, Director of Jostens Renaissance Education. “The passion and dedication of the educators and
student leaders at these schools are a driving force in building a culture of achievement, pride, and belonging. Each of these schools have demonstrated measurable results in the areas of their own focus, often educator morale or academic achievement. At the same time, they create a culture where every student belongs, not just attends. These schools truly create exceptional environments for both staff and students.”
Central Regional High School and Middle School were recognized at the 2025 Jostens Renaissance Global Conference in Chula Vista, Calif. in July. Last December, the Central Regional School District was recognized as a 2025 District of Distinction at the District Administration’s National Awards Program. The award, in the Safety & Wellness Category, was presented to the district for its health and 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.
For over 30 years, Jostens has partnered with educators to renew school climate and culture through the Jostens Renaissance program and philosophy. Thousands of schools across North America are proud to call themselves “Jostens Renaissance” schools, sharing a sense of pride that is reflected in the results seen in improved academic performance, behavior, student engagement, and overall school spirit. Jostens Renaissance is dedicated to providing conferences, workshops and resources to schools in order to build character in students and culture on campus.
District Taking Jostens Renaissance Framework to the Next Level
Even though Central Regional High School and Middle School have been named Gold Level Schools of Distinction by Jostens Renaissance, they are not going to rest on their laurels. In fact, this school year the district is taking the initiative to the next level with the expansion of the Eagle Points Incentive Program.
Through the expanded program, students can earn points toward tickets for achievements in school attendance, character and academics. These tickets can be entered into weekly, monthly and end-of-year drawings through which students can win small prizes such as snacks or bigger prizes such as gift cards, Central Regional gear,
INTEGRITY
BE A LEADER BE RESILIENT
or high-level prizes such as a campus parking space or exclusive end-of-the-year celebrations.
For example, a teacher or administrator can award attendance points to a student for consistent school attendance or for making up for days absent by attending CR Academy. Likewise, staffulty may award points for academic achievement such as demonstrating commitment to learning, academic excellence or academic growth on the individual or class level. Lasty, students can earn character points for demonstrating any of the eight character “talons” of what it means to be a Golden Eagle. These talons include the following:
In The Classroom and on Campus In The Community and Beyond
• Be honest • Do your own work
• Use appropriate language
• Have a positive mindset
• Strive for progress not perfection
• Believe in yourself
• Encourage others • Model appropriate behaviors
• Offer and accept help
• Think outside the box • Problem solve
• Be unique and yourself
• Be open to building relationships with peers and staffulty
• Have a "can do" attitude
• Stay focused
• Plan your time nicely
• Respect yourself, others, property, and the community • Use appropriate language
• Inspire others who come after you
• Graduate
• Doing the right thing when no one is looking • Follow rules and procedures
• Have positive interactions with others
• Acknowledge the good in others
• Have gratitude
• Encourage others • Be a role model for others • Get involved in school activities
• Think beyond graduation
• Create relationships with alumni, community stakeholders • More parent involvement
• Embrace challenges to meet and exceed goals
• Respect yourself, others, property, and the community • Use appropriate language
• Make positive memories • Contribute back to CR • Leave school better than when you arrived
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"The program is intended to recognize and reward not only high levels of achievement but also improvement and effort,” said Jillian Hawtin, English Department Head, Staff Trainer and Renaissance Co-Advisor, who is leading the initiative. “We’re hoping that the tiered system will encourage students to want to earn those rewards. It adds some extra incentive.”
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Hawtin said that students have been very involved with planning and providing input for these incentive programs.
“We have a core group of students who work with us side by side,” Hawtin said. “They like what we’re doing, but sometimes they want to do it in a different way. Having their feedback is important.”
New Educational Framework Supports Individual Learning Needs
This year, the school district is introducing a new comprehensive general educational framework designed to support the individual learning needs of every student. Called the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), the initiative is being implemented as a pilot program in the Central Regional Middle School (grades 7-9) this fall, according to Superintendent Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder, Ed.D.
MTSS is not a special program or a separate service but a framework that uses data to determine students’ individual needs, addressing both remediation and enrichment and providing systematic support at multiple levels.
Unlike special education or gifted programs, MTSS does not target specific student populations. It provides academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support to all students at the core tier in inclusive and equitable learning settings.
“All students receive support from MTSS at tier one,” Dr. CarneyRay-Yoder said. “This is daily classroom instruction. Every strategy, every differentiation technique teachers use, and every accommodation we provide is part of tier one of MTSS. More tiers are added based on individual student needs.”
At the next tier, MTSS provides supplemental support, including additional service for some students who require more support. The top level of MTSS provides intensified support, targeting academic, behavioral and socialemotional intervention.
“Teachers were already doing MTSS,” Dr. CarneyRay-Yoder said. “Many current teaching practices are part of the MTSS framework. Implementation of this pilot helps us to be more systematic and data-driven in our approach.”
The MTSS process begins with screening and assessing
students, identifying their strengths and needs and reviewing existing data. Teachers and staff then work together to select appropriate tiers for students, creating evidence-based interventions and setting measurable goals for students. The final step, which is a continuous process, includes monitoring, analyzing trends and adjusting intervention plans as needed.
“MTSS is fluid and flexible” Dr. CarneyRay-Yoder said. “Students can move between tiers based on their progress and needs.”
Dr. CarneyRay-Yoder said parents are essential partners in MTSS success.
“Regular communication with parents about student progress helps ensure consistency between home and school,” Dr. CarneyRay-Yoder said. “Parents will be able to have conversations with teachers and staff who will be able to set up interventions to help students who need support or additional enrichment.”
MTSS TIERS
Golden Eagle Mart Receives $1,000 Donation from Local Club
T he Golden Eagle Mart (GEM) at Central Regional High School received a generous donation over the summer that helped make the beginning of the school year a little brighter for students in need.
The Holiday City South Men’s Club of Toms River donated $1,000 to the Golden Eagle Mart after reading an article about GEM. They liked GEM’s mission and decided to make the donation to support the operation.
Launched in 2017, GEM provides students with essentials such as food, clothing, hygiene products, school supplies, and other
everyday necessities. It also has laundry facilities available for student use.
According to CRHS Principal Angelo Mazzuca, the donation was used to purchase school supplies to help students start the year with the materials they need to succeed.
“We are very grateful for the generosity of the members of the Holiday City South Men’s Club,” Mazzuca said. “Their donation is making a difference and helping to set our students up for success.”
a $1,000
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CR Academy Helps Improve Attendance and Academic Performance
T here are several reasons why students are absent from school, but when those absences add up, it negatively impacts academic performance. Last year, Central Regional School District introduced CR Academy to address this issue by improving attendance and helping students stay on track academically.
CR Academy is for students at the high school or middle school who have exceeded five unexplained absences due to illness with a parent or doctor’s note. The program is held after school during teachers’ office hours to support the academic instruction missed, according to Laura Venello, director of pupil services, who leads the program.
“This program changes the mindset from getting missed assignments done to learning what they missed being absent from class,” said Venello. “The program is voluntary and we saw an increase in the number of students participating toward the end of the year so they could take part in extracurricular activities such as prom and other events.”
Teachers have scheduled office hours after school and each day is assigned certain academic subjects so students can make up for missed class time in those areas. For example, Mondays are for science and foreign languages; Tuesdays are for English, technology, business and consumer and
family sciences; Wednesdays are for physical education and health; and Thursdays are for social studies and the arts. Guidance counselors are also available after school to help students with other issues that may be impacting attendance or academic performance.
Students who participate in CR Academy can actually expunge school absences because they are making up time for missed classes by receiving after-school instruction. Under New Jersey Department of Education regulations, their records are changed from “absent” to “receiving home instruction.”
Students who want to participate in CR Academy can find a form on the website or in the Main Office, Guidance Office or Assistant Principals’ Offices. The form should be completed and returned to an Assistant Principal or Guidance Counselor/Case Manager.
“We did see a positive impact on student attendance and hope to build off of the program’s initial success in the 25-26 school year,” Venello said. “This program is intended to support students in their efforts to graduate, but it's our hope that it supports them past graduation and much further into their future."
Holiday City South Men’s Club President James Gibbons (third from left) presents
check
CRHS Principal Angelo Mazzuca. They are joined by (left to right) Assistant Principal Adrienne Cangelosi, Director of Pupil Service Laura Venello, Occupational Therapist Erin Long, Holiday City Men’s Club Treasurer Bill Siegel and Assistant Principal Irene Marousis.
District Expands Mental Health Services to Provide Rapid Response to Issues
Last year, the district launched a new initiative with InSite Health, a school-based outpatient therapy and psychiatric services provider, to strengthen the district’s mental health services. This year, the district welcomed additional resources to further enhance the initiative.
Over the summer, the district hired a full-time licensed clinical social worker and a part-time (two days a week) psychiatric nurse practitioner to help address immediate situations in the district, such as student in crisis, evaluations and medication management for students, according to Dr. Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder, superintendent.
“With the online services through InSite Health and the additional highly qualified practitioners on our staffulty, we are able to provide a more immediate and higher level of services where students don’t need to wait for support."
To utilize the InSite Health services, students or parents can visit the Mental Health Support page on the CRSD website at wearecrsd.com/page/mentalhealth-support or contact their guidance counselor. In addition, the district offers the HELPme app, which provides immediate assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for staffulty and students in the district.
“We are able to provide service within a couple of days versus waiting weeks,” Dr. CarneyRay-Yoder said. “It is allowing us to serve students quicker and get students back to school and learning when possible.”
District Partners with Georgian Court University to Give Students College Head Start
Starting this fall, students in the Central Regional High School Humanities Academy can earn up to 18 college credits through Georgian Court University without leaving the school or paying a dime for tuition.
Over the summer, the Central Regional School District entered a partnership with the Lakewood, N.J.-based Catholic university, replacing a similar partnership the district had for two years with Stockton University. The partnership is a return to the program’s roots. Georgian Court was the district’s original higher education partner for the Humanities Academy when the program started during the 2012-13 school year.
“We have a strong history and familiarity with Georgian Court University and we look forward to partnering with them again to provide our students with the opportunity to get a head start on college and expedite the time it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree,” said Dr. Douglas Corbett, CRSD assistant superintendent.
The Humanities Academy is an accelerated academic program designed to fully prepare students for higher learning. Students enrolled in the Academy must adhere to a prescribed schedule of honors and advanced placement coursework. The Capstone aspect of the Academy allows seniors to earn 18 credits from
Georgian Court University at no expense to the student.
The courses are taught at Central Regional High School by full-time Georgian Court faculty, so there is no need for students to travel to the university for classes. The district pays for the 18 credits that students earn. At $822 per credit, that is a $14,796 head start on college. In addition, CRSD covers the costs of books – about $300 per semester. Finally, CRHS Humanities Academy graduates who enroll at Georgian Court full time would be eligible for $21,000 per year in financial aid.
In the first semester of their senior year, Humanities Academy students will take Honors Argument and Rhetoric, World History Survey and Introduction to Psychology – worth nine credits through Georgian Court. The three courses students would take in the second semester are being finalized.
"We are excited to partner with Georgian Court University again and we look forward to exploring additional opportunities with them to give our students a leg up on their college studies,” Corbett said.
Summer Improvements Spruce Up Schools, Improve Safety and Security
S ummer is an ideal time for housekeeping and making upgrades at schools and the Central Regional School District tackled their fair share of projects over the summer.
According to CRSD Business Administrator Kevin O’Shea, many of the improvements to the high school and middle school are noticeable to students and staffulty, while others are more behind the scenes.
CENTRAL REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
• Replaced three water heaters
• Replaced two exterior doors
• Upgraded electrical service panel
• Replaced girls’ locker room floor
• Installed a new kiln in the art room
• Replaced lighting in the Superintendent’s Office
• Repainted cafeteria exterior wall
• Installed security drop-off windows
“Several of the projects help improve safety and security and help update and improve aesthetics at our schools,” O’Shea said. “Those projects people can’t see, such as upgrading the electrical panel at the high school and replacing three water heaters, help keep our schools operating at a high level of energy efficiency.”
The list of improvements made over the summer include:
CENTRAL REGIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
• Replaced floor in foyer of the gymnasium
• Planted arborvitaes (slim evergreens) along front entrance from the east gate to the traffic light
• Installed new lighting on the path to the football field
• Installed new turf football field
• Installed security cameras at football field (partly funded by safety grant)
• Removed trees in front of retaining wall and power washed the wall to prepare it for advertising
• Installed security drop-off windows
Updated District App Helps Build Connection for Parents
F or working parents, it can be a challenge to stay connected to what is going on with their children’s education. The Central Regional School District makes that connection easier through the downloadable Central Regional Schools app.
Through the app, parents of Central Regional students can get classroom updates, announcements, send messages to teachers and much more. The app is available for iPhone and Android devices. For more information on how to allow notifications on the app, watch this video.
Superintendent Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder, Ed.D. encourages parents to download the app, or if they have done that already, make sure they have the latest version.
“The app is a great way to become more engaged with your children’s education,” said Dr. CarneyRay-Yoder. “We encourage parents to explore the app and take advantage of all its functions to stay connected to teachers and get the most out of the opportunities the district offers.”
New Faces in New Places
The Central Regional School District welcomed eight new staffulty this year. If you see them in the school halls, please say “Hello!” and welcome them to our community. In addition, some familiar faces are in new roles in the district.
KIMBERLY BRACCO
CRHS ENGLISH TEACHER
Fun Fact: I love reading, writing, and yes... I do correct grammar in real life. My family just loves that about me (not really).
ANGELA TETZLAFF
CRHS GUIDANCE SECRETARY
Fun Fact: I’m a Disney-loving mom of three teen girl athletes, and my happy place is anywhere with sand and sun!
ALEXANDER QUINN
CRHS MATHEMATICS TEACHER
Fun Fact: I'm a crossword puzzle solver who came in 5th in the New Jersey division of the 2021 American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.
JENNIFER SANTOMENNA
CRHS ENGLISH TEACHER
Fun Fact: I love 3D printing!
The district also welcomed Jenna Buonomo, a high school American Sign Language teacher; and Jennifer Mundy, a middle school nurse.
TARA KEENAN
CRHS FOOD SERVICE
Fun Fact: I am a mother of three. I enjoy refinishing furniture whenever I have some downtime for myself.
CRHS HISTORY TEACHER
Fun Fact: I’m a big Yankees fan but live in a household full of Mets fans, my wife of 12 years and three boys Jordy, Lucas and Jesse.
DENNIS O'KEEFE
CRHS ACTING ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Fun Fact: In the summers, I’m a union stagehand for Live Nation—setting up concerts and meeting some truly legendary musicians!
JOSEPH TOTH
CRHS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL/ACTING SUPERVISOR OF PEOPLE SERVICES
Fun Fact: I’m a huge Star Wars fan.
CRHS TEMPORARY LONG TERM ENGLISH TEACHER
Fun Fact: My fun fact is I was born in South Australia.
ADAM TAHA
SARAH VIET