School Board Appoints High School, Whiting Elementary Principals

Manchester Township High School graduates R. Dennis Adams and Evelyn Swift were appointed as school principals in their home town at the June 19 township Board of Education meeting.

Adams, who had been a high school teacher in Lakewood and Jackson townships and most recently an administrator at Keansburg High School, will serve as Manchester Township High School Principal.

Current Principal Alex George, who has led the school since 2009, will take over as Director of Student and Administrative Services. Kevin Burger, who currently holds that position, retires on Sept. 1, according to district Public Information Officer Lee Bruzaitis.

Swift, who had taught first and fourth grades, was a language arts teacher at Manchester Township Middle School and spent the last five years as the high school's vice-principal, will take over as principal of Whiting Elementary School. The school’s current principal, Dr. Frances Scudese, is retiring.

"They are two outstanding individuals, Mr. Adams with 15 years experience and Mrs. Swift with 21 years," said Superintendent of Schools David Trethaway. "It's a bonus they're both so qualified, but they are both Manchester alumni."

The salaries for the new principals have not yet been negotiated, according to Bruzaitis, and will need county and local board of education approval. 

Adams attended Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., where he majored in business, intending to go into corporate America.

"I never thought that I would take this path," said Adams. "This is my dream job. It's an honor to come back and work here. It's a great school system and a great community. I'm looking forward to working with the faculty, staff, students and parents."

Adams said the first thing he plans to do is gather information and get a sense of the culture of the school. He said he will work with the faculty on instructional goals, ensuring the students are college and career-ready.

Adams lives in Manchester and has four children in the school system, including his 14-year-old daughter who is entering high school as a freshman.

Swift earned her Bachelor's degree from Monmouth University and her graduate degree from Kean University. In addition to being a 1986 MTHS graduate, her children also went through the school system.

"Manchester has been good to me in terms of quality of the education I received and the opportunities I received," Swift said. "I was mentored and learned so much from so many great people. I feel very fortunate."

This story was written by Lynne Richmond, with additional reporting by Gregory Kyriakakis.