Manchester Superintendent Trethaway Retiring: 'I’m Proud Of What We’ve Accomplished'

MANCHESTER, NJ — Manchester Township Superintendent David Trethaway will be retiring from the district in 2022, he told the township Board of Education on Wednesday.

"It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing my retirement," Trethaway said. "I can only say, it’s been an honor to serve this school district as the superintendent."

He is retiring effective Feb. 1, 2022.

Trethaway, who has been an educator for 45 years, was appointed as superintendent in Manchester on July 1, 2008. He was superintendent in the Central Regional School District from 2001-2008 and before that was an assistant superintendent at Central. He started as a math teacher for grades 7-12 in the Jackson Township Schools and became supervisor of basic skills and then vice principal before becoming acting principal at Jackson Township High School.

He is a graduate of Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and earned a master's degree in education administration from Georgian Court University.

In his years in Manchester, Trethaway has served on numerous committees, boards and panels in a variety of areas including curriculum, instruction, school funding, security and legislation. He was named 2019 Regional Superintendent of the Year for Region III by the NJASA.

"I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and what the staff, the parents and the community have accomplished," Trethaway said. "We’ve been through mold situations, we’ve been through a hurricane situation, and now we’re dealing with a pandemic. As a district, we have always successfully met each challenge."

Trethaway said he had wanted to retire in June 2021 but when the pandemic hit he knew it was not a good time and decided to wait. He said he hoped that announcing his retirement now would give the board enough time to find a replacement and make a smooth transition.

"I just want to say that this is an excellent district and it’s important to keep it that way for our students," he said. "This district is respected throughout the county. We have a lot to be proud of. The community, the staff, the parents, the students and the board have all been very good to me. I’m proud to be part of Manchester and what we stand for as a district."

"I have been blessed with a great teaching and support staff, administrators, board of education and parents and a community who all support the schools. It has been a privilege to be the superintendent of the Manchester Township School District."

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