MANCHESTER – Educators within the township’s school district took part in a leadership role at the third annual Connected Leadership Conference, hosted by the Monmouth County Curriculum Consortium.
The event took place at Monmouth University as part of a joint initiative with the Ocean County Curriculum Consortium and the Superintendents Roundtable. It brought together hundreds of educators from across the region for a day of professional learning, collaboration, and leadership development.
Manchester Township School District was selected to lead both of the breakout sessions offered at the conference, highlighting the district’s commitment to innovative practices and instructional leadership.
Township educators Crystal Policastro, Monique Phua, and Kim Costagliola led a session focused on strengthening student outcomes through targeted interventions and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).
(Photo courtesy Manchester Schools)
The workshop provided leaders with practical strategies for tiered support, MTSS implementation, and improving intervention systems to meet the diverse needs of students.
Two workshops were involved in the second breakout session showcasing Manchester’s leadership in school culture and teacher development.
Bridging the Gap: Empowering Teachers as Leaders & Partners with Administrators was led by Principal Evelyn Swift of Whiting Elementary School. This session focused on building teacher leadership capacity, fostering mentorship, and promoting collaboration to create a positive, empowered school environment. Participants explored strategies to enhance teacher and administrator partnerships, improve communication, and strengthen school culture.
Educator Jennifer Eckert and Principal Sarah Thiffault of Ridgeway Elementary School talked about Restorative Practices with their presentation where they introduced strategies for fostering student ownership of school communities. Attendees learned how restorative practices address root causes of student behavior, reduce exclusionary discipline, and improve academic engagement and school climate.
The Connected Leadership Conference provided a forum for educators to share best practices, engage in meaningful dialogue, and expand their leadership skills. Manchester Township School District officials noted that they were proud of their fellow educators for representing the district as leaders and sharing their expertise with peers across Monmouth and Ocean counties.
