MANCHESTER – This summer the Manchester Township School District welcomed a new Director of Curriculum, Tracey Raimondo and Director of Special Services Jill A. Moore to the administrative team.
Raimondo was raised in the Garden State and spent her entire career in the Manchester Township School District, first leading students as a teacher, later being promoted to lead staff as a vice principal, and now moving into her new role as Director of Curriculum.
“I am proud I have spent my almost 30-year career invested in this school district and community. Blue and gold runs through my veins. I am excited to continue to work with such a great team of educational professionals as the Director of Curriculum. Together we will continue to push Manchester to new heights,” she added.
The goal of the Director of Curriculum is to provide leadership in the development of the PreK-12 instructional programs and the achievement of New Jersey Student Learning Standards, district academic goals, and other objectives.
Raimondo helps to develop the school district’s academic goals, provides support for those goals, and ensures their execution throughout the school year. She has always been heavily involved in district-level committees and activities which has provided her with perspective and the experience of working with district-wide curriculum and instruction
In addition to her leadership role within the school district, Raimondo is the Executive Director of NJASCD Central and has been involved in organizing EdCamp Jersey Shore.
“It is so rewarding to have the opportunity to work with all parents and staff in the school district, even some who I taught when they went to school,” she said. “I love seeing their successes and working with them as dedicated partners in support of this school district, our community, and our students’ success.”
Raimondo said, “over the years, I have developed a great working relationship with parents, students, and administrators across the district. These working relationships are essential when collaborating toward achieving our school district’s academic goals and striving toward our district motto of ‘Excellence by Example.’ I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with our school community as the Director of Curriculum.”
Moore attended college in New Jersey, first at TCNJ where she achieved her undergraduate degree, and then moved on to Jersey City State College for her Special Education Certification. She continued with her studies to successfully achieve a Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision.
Moore recently served as the principal of Manchester Township Elementary School before taking on her new role as the Director of Special Services. Manchester is where she has spent her entire career which began in 1990 as a second-grade teacher before moving into roles as a resource teacher, basic skills teacher, self-contained teacher, vice principal, and then principal.
She worked closely throughout her career in Manchester with SEPAG, is Crisis Prevention & Intervention (CPI) trained, and has been the district CPI trainer for the last four years.
“Special education has been my passion since I started teaching,” Moore said. “I feel most connected to our students and my career when I am working with students with special needs. It has always been a goal of mine to be able to support all students, giving them access to a supportive environment in which they feel comfortable to take risks and find success.”
She added, “I now have the opportunity to do so outside of one classroom, or one school building, as Manchester’s Director of Special Services.”
Moore explained that the responsibilities of the director of Special Services were to “assist the Superintendent in providing leadership, supervision, and coordination of the total education program. “The Manchester community is my community.”
“As the new director of Special Services, it is my goal to meet all of our students’ needs. I am committed to remaining connected to our students and their families, understanding that parents are a child’s number one advocate. I strive to support each individual student’s needs by making and maintaining relationships in partnership with families and staff. I want to ensure each child has a successful educational experience,” Moore remarked.
Officials said that Moore’s leadership style has always been to lead by example, never asking someone to do something she would not do herself. Mrs. Moore’s tagline and response to most anything that comes her way is, “how can I help?” and she is now honored to be able to answer this question by helping Manchester’s students and community in the role as the new Director of Special Services.