Sen. Bob Menendez Visits NJ Principal Of The Year In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) met with Ocean City High School Principal Matthew Jamison to congratulate him on being named the New Jersey Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the senator’s office announced.

The two men discussed how Jamison raised the education standards within the Ocean City School District, as well federal funding and legislation to help public schools across New Jersey.

“What Principal Jamison has done in implementing professional learning communities, revising standards and establishing common sense assessments is inspiring,” Menendez said. “I was elected to the Union City Board of Education when I was 20 and learned quickly what qualities made an excellent principal, and Principal Jamison embodies the commitment to education that every public school student deserves. I believe we must honor and thank individuals like Mr. Jamison because they are an essential part of what makes New Jersey one of the best states to send a child to public school, and we want to keep it that way.”

Jamison won the honor in April. He was also named one of the 2017-18 Visionary Leaders of the Year by the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA). At the same time, Ocean City Intermediate School Principal Geoffrey Haines has been selected as the winner of the 2018 AtlantiCare Healthy Educator Award.

Read more here: 2 Ocean City Principals Capture Awards

Jamison was recognized for bringing the Professional Learning Communities to Ocean City High School years before it was included in the AchieveNJ teacher evaluation. The program has allowed the high school's faculty to revise standards, establish common sense assessments and develop assessment guides through curriculum. As a result, Ocean City High School has become the model for creating Student Growth Objectives. Rutgers University is studying the high school for its work in this area.

Jamison also co-developed the school's NJ School Choice Programs. He also led the expansion of dual credit opportunities for students, the expansion of the Freshman Transition Program to include mentoring and career paths, open enrollment in Advanced Placement courses with additional faculty and student support, and a transformed Master Schedule to better afford teachers and students time for more rigorous and immersive learning experiences.

At age 20, Menendez became the youngest person ever to be elected to the Union City Board of Education, his first public office. Since then, Menendez has advocated federal budget increases for public school education and improved standards in public schools. He has also vigorously opposed President Donald Trump’s Department of Education nominees that Menendez said have not demonstrated a dedication to public schools, most notably Secretary Betsy DeVos.

The attached image was provided by Sen. Bob Menendez’s Office: Menendez stands with NJ’s Principal of the Year, Matthew Jamison of Ocean City High School.