Wolf Hill bids goodbye to principal 'who watched us grow'
Educator raised in Long Branch to retire
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RENEE BONIN Renee Bonin poses with students at Wolf Hill School, where she served as principal for five years. She will retire July 31 after 30 years with the Oceanport School District.

OCEANPORT — After almost 30 years with the Oceanport School District, five as principal of Wolf Hill Elementary School, Renee Bonin said it is time to pass her job on to a younger person.

"I always promised myself that I would not grow old in this job," she said. "My first class was at the age of 21, and I have been working and studying since then. I'm reaching close to 55 years old and it was time to look at [retiring]."

At the end of May, Bonin sent a letter to Superintendent of Schools Andrew Orefice's office announcing her intention of retiring.

"I met with the teachers and wrote a letter to the parents letting them all know about my retirement," she said.

Bonin's last day as principal is July 31.

School officials conducted what they have described as an "exhaustive and thorough" interview process. Last week, Melanie M. Shelley was named as the new principal of Wolf Hill.

Bonin joins in the fun with students, who, she said, have treated her like a "Hollywood hero."

The 2001 graduate of The College of New Jersey has a master's degree from the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education where she currently is working on her doctorate in educational administration and supervision.

Shelley's employment in public education includes serving as a classroom teacher at the Midtown Community Elementary School from 2001 to 2007. Since October 2007, Shelley had worked as the assistant principal and district supervisor of music at the Lafayette Mills School in the Manalapan Englishtown Regional School District.

Bonin, who has met with Shelley, said her advice to the new principal is to enjoy the ride.

"She'll have wonderful support here," Bonin said in a June 19 interview.

Also, Bonin advised Shelley she will be treated "like a Hollywood hero."

"There is no place other than in an elementary school that a kindergartner will greet you like he or she hasn't seen you in years when he or she has just seen you in the past 15 minutes. It feels like when I'm here Madonna has nothing on me."

Earlier in the day, an assembly was held so that students from kindergarten to fourth grade could say their final goodbyes as a group. The fourth-graders made and signed a poster with the words "You Watched us Grow" and teachers made and signed a white T-shirt with the words "Team Wolf Hill."

"It's bittersweet and an extreme feeling of sadness," said Bonin, wiping away tears. "With the fourth-graders, they essentially grew up with me."

As Bonin walked through the halls, the words "We Will Miss You" were posted on bulletin boards.

Bonin, who grew up in Long Branch, said since she was in fourth grade she has known she wanted to become an elementary school teacher.

"It was Mrs. Constantino who was an inspiration to me," she said. "From early on, I was always eager to help and I helped kids with their work."

Bonin said she had the same focus when she was in high school where she was involved with the Future Teachers of America and worked as a summer camp counselor.

After high school, Bonin attended Glassboro State College, now Rowan University, and took all the classes pertaining to teaching and obtained numerous teaching certificates.

Bonin said that when she graduated in 1976, there were no teaching jobs.

"I was living in a house with seven girls, who all wanted to become teachers," she said. "I sent out 110 applications, went on five interviews and received two callbacks, one was in New Hampshire and one was in Vermont."

Bonin eventually took the job in New Hampshire where she taught for two years.

"I was a fifth-grade teacher and quickly became friends with the special education teachers," she said. "It was tough my first year and after my second year, the superintendent said I was the best teacher he had ever observed."

Bonin said she carries her experience in New Hampshire over into everything she does.

"I rarely judge teachers on their first year," she said. "I know from experience how hard it is with that very first class."

After two years, Bonin came back to New Jersey where she married and secured a job as a reading teacher at Wolf Hill.

"It was the day before the first day of school and my classroom was filled with boxes," she said. "It was the year where Oceanport took in the students from Sea Bright. I was getting ready when Dr. Price, superintendent at the time, came up to me and said along with the merger, the Sea Bright teachers were coming in as well, which meant I lost the reading teacher job."

However, Bonin said she was told a position as a sixth-grade teacher was open, which she took.

"This was the day before school started, everything was in boxes," she said. "I remember staying late cutting out letters."

Since she came to Oceanport, Bonin said she bounced around different jobs from gifted and talented teacher, to basic skills teacher, to replacement teacher in various grades and a computer teacher.

"After eight years of this, I asked for a contract," she said.

In 1996, Bonin became supervisor of technology instruction and supervisor of curriculum.

"I essentially had taught everything at that time," she said.

For eight years, she served in that role before she submitted her name to become principal of Wolf Hill.

"I enjoyed working with the teachers and with the programs; however, I felt something was still missing and that was the kid connection," she said.

Bonin received her school administration degree through an alternate route program.

In 2004, Bonin became principal at Wolf Hill after the school district restructured. Prior to Bonin becoming principal at Wolf Hill, the superintendent of schools held the position of principal.

"It was such a huge learning curve because of the discipline and parent piece of it," she said.

As Bonin looks back at her five years, she said one of the biggest highlights was the integration of technology at the schools.

"Technology has come a long way and it appeals to the children," she said.

Bonin also mentioned a writer's workshop at the Columbia University's Teachers College, which changed the way writing was taught at the school as well as implementing the Everyday Math program into the curriculum.

"There is a lot more small group instruction," she said.

Bonin said for the future of Wolf Hill, she would like to see a new facility built.

"This school is old," she said. "I would like to see a brand new school put in place. The original building dates back to 1911, the addition dates back to 1932, and the most recent addition was in 1990."

Although she will miss her time at Wolf Hill and in Oceanport, Bonin said she is looking forward to enjoying her retirement.

"We have plans to move to Maine," she said. "They have just renovated their library branch there, and I'm interested in volunteering for Literacy Volunteers of America. There is also a big Somalian population there, and I can see myself teaching English at the local colleges as well as computers."