RBR Principal Honored at MLK Celebration with Community Leadership Award

Red Bank Regional (RBR) Principal Risa Clay was honored by the Pilgrim Baptist Church Commemorative Celebration Committee with its Community Leadership Award at its annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Commemorative Celebration held on Martin Luther King’s birthday. Also honored was Linda Ambis, Vice President of the Health and Wellness at the Community YMCA.

The event featured the participation of various religious leaders of many area church congregations, Monmouth Reform Temple, several community organizations, Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna and Police Chief Darren McConnell. Reverend Bernadette Glover from St Paul Baptist Church in Montclair was the event’s special guest speaker. The Red Bank Regional High School Choir performed throughout the three-hour event along with other area youth groups.

Risa Clay began her career at RBR as a student assistance counselor and later established The SOURCE, RBR’s School Based Youth Services Program. She also created the awarded-winning ELL program as its supervisor. In conjunction with her Hispanic student’s improvement and success, she founded a scholarship funded with private donations to enable ELL students to attend college. She later ascended to Vice Principal and then Principal of the high school. RBR is lauded for its diversity and high academic achievements.

Upon receiving her award, Risa Clay stated, “Throughout the 22 years I have worked at RBR, I have been blessed to know generations of students and their families. They never cease to amaze me with their resilience by refusing to be defined by circumstance, statistics or convention... Diversity within our school enriches each of us in ways that are irreplaceable and sometimes not quantifiable. I am blessed to work in a school rich in diversity; this choice has enriched my life immeasurably.”