Plumsted Township School District

President: Dr. Vincent Giardina

Vice President: Mrs. Kelly Morgan

Member: Mr. Kevin Dreher

Member: Mrs. Kathryn Kovacs

Member: Mr. Earl Meroney

Member: Mrs. Ashley Raywood

Member: Mr. Robert Stepnowski

Mr. Fence was appointed as Assistant Principal and Supervisor of Athletics in July 2025. He has served in education for over two decades as a teacher, coach, and school leader. Mr. Fence began his career in education as a business educator and has taught a variety of courses including Business Law, Sports Marketing, and Personal Finance. His leadership experience includes roles as a classroom teacher and Dean of Students, with a consistent focus on building a positive school culture.

As the longtime Head Football Coach at New Egypt High School, Mr. Fence has led the program with pride, emphasizing character, accountability, and teamwork. Over the course of his 26-year coaching career, he has also coached track & field, girls flag football, girls basketball, and tennis, earning recognition for his commitment to student-athletes both on and off the field.

In his current role, Mr. Fence oversees school operations, student discipline, and staff support, while also supervising all athletic programs and extracurricular activities. He collaborates closely with coaches, families, and community stakeholders to foster student engagement, strengthen school pride, and ensure a well-rounded educational and athletic experience.

Mr. Fence earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Education from American Intercontinental University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. He is passionate about developing strong student leaders and creating a safe, inclusive school environment where all students can excel.

Mrs. Youngblood is passionate about helping students thrive and supporting teachers in creating engaging, inclusive learning environments. She began her journey in education after earning a Bachelor’s degree from Trenton State College, followed by a Special Education Certification from Georgian Court University, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Rider University.

She spent eleven years teaching special education in the Lacey Township Elementary Schools, where she worked closely with students and families to meet each child’s unique needs. She then moved into school administration at the Lacey Middle School, serving as an administrator for five years, before becoming Principal of Frederick A. Priff Elementary School in Waretown, where she focused on fostering a positive school culture and building strong community connections.

During her career, Mrs. Youngblood also had the opportunity to work in Toms River High School North, where her own children were attending school at the time. After thirty-one diverse and rewarding years, she retired to spend more time with family and the prospect of travel.

Mrs. Youngblood is excited to serve as Interim Assistant Principal at Dr. Gerald H. Woehr Elementary School. She looks forward to supporting students, families, and staff in creating a welcoming, safe, and inspiring place for learning.

• The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs awarded the Plumsted Township School District a Local Recreational Improvement grant of $50,000. The awarded funds were used to rebuild a neglected ropes course at New Egypt High School, which will provide our students with a dynamic and challenging environment to develop teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. A low ropes course is a series of ground-based or low-to-the-ground obstacles designed to promote teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. These courses differ from obstacle courses, as they often incorporate social elements where participants work together to overcome challenges.

  • Ground-based or Low to the Ground:
    Elements are typically a few feet off the ground, minimizing risk and making the course accessible to a broader range of participants.

  • Teamwork and Collaboration:
    Many activities require participants to rely on each other for support, communication, and creative problem-solving.

  • Physical and Mental Challenges:
    Low ropes courses offer a variety of physical challenges that also require participants to think strategically and work together to find solutions.

  • Focus on Social and Emotional Learning:
    Beyond physical skills, low ropes courses help participants build trust, improve communication, and develop leadership and problem-solving skills.

  Benefits:

  • Improved Communication:
    Participants learn to communicate effectively to coordinate their actions and problem-solve.

  • Enhanced Trust:
    Working together to overcome challenges builds trust and confidence in each other.

  • Increased Collaboration:
    Low ropes courses foster a sense of teamwork and encourage participants to work together towards a common goal.

  • Boosted Confidence:
    Completing challenges on the course can boost self-esteem and confidence.

  Leadership Development:
  Participants may naturally step into leadership roles to guide their team through the challenges.
  
  

The Board of Education wishes Mr. Justin Goodman the best of luck after resigning from the Board of Education, since he has recently moved out of Plumsted Township. Mr. Goodman has been on the Board of Education since 2021, and we thank him for his volunteer service to the district and wish him well in his future endeavors.

The district is beginning a new replace and replenish program for 1:1 technology devices for its students. The first initiative involves entering into a lease agreement with Apple to provide students in grades 7-12 with iPads equipped with keyboards. This initiative, piloted last year, will enable the district to pay for the devices over four years. The Apple devices will allow newly issued Chromebooks to be brought to the elementary school for student use. Sending Chromebooks to the elementary school will ensure the district remains 1:1, providing all students with access to a Chromebook or iPad for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond. (New iPad is pictured).

The district has also used grant funding to purchase new AppleTVs to replace the dated ones in the high school and elementary school.

For the 2025-2026 school year, we are pleased to announce that all 7th and 8th-grade students will have 40-minute full-year classes in English/Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science. Last year, 7th-grade students benefited from full-year classes for ELA and math. This upcoming school year, the district will be able to expand it to 8th-grade students and incorporate social studies and science, which is an appropriate academic model for middle school students.