Red Bank Schools Leader Named County Superintendent Of The Year

RED BANK, NJ — Dr. Jared J. Rumage, Red Bank superintendent of schools, has been selected as the 2023 Monmouth County Superintendent of the Year, the Board of Education announced.

Annually, superintendents from each of the nearly 60 school districts in Monmouth County nominate a superintendent for the honor. This year, Rumage was recognized by his colleagues during the monthly Monmouth County Superintendents’ Roundtable earlier this spring.

"'Dream BIG... We’ll help you get there!' is the district’s mantra, and with Dr. Rumage at the helm, he has been able to inspire and enact those big dreams for the entire school community," the board said in its announcement of the award.

As the 2023 Monmouth County Superintendent of the Year, Rumage will now apply to represent Monmouth County for the 2023 New Jersey Association of School Administrators Regional Superintendent of the Year. That selection would qualify him for the State and National Superintendent of the Year designation.

The process recognizes school leaders who meet needs of their students, demonstrate communication strength and a commitment to professional development and growth, and who show significant community involvement, the board explained.

Rumage became superintendent of schools in Red Bank on July 1, 2014. Before that, he was a special education teacher, athletic director, elementary school principal and middle school principal for nearly 20 years. Rumage lives in Fair Haven with his wife, Karen, and two children, Jamie and Dylan.

Rumage "focuses on people, not programs," the board said in its announcement.

"This includes building a strong culture, positive organizational climate, collaborating with stakeholders, cultivating community partnerships, and fostering a growth mindset," the board said.

The board said Rumage has created "a new narrative" for the district with multimedia outlets, personal school tours, the rebirth of the Education Foundation, and expanded partnerships.

Red Bank was also named a Lighthouse District for its growth in student achievement. The state Department of Education Lighthouse Award recognizes districts that show "measurable progress toward equitable outcomes in a specific area."

Some accomplishments during Rumage's leadership include:

• Strategic Plan update.
• Passing of a tax-neutral facilities referendum.
• Implementation of a 1:1 Chromebook program.
• Co-teaching across all grades.

And the board noted that the accomplishments have taken place amid decreasing state aid, $45 million over the past 10 years.

But the board said that Rumage doesn't do the job alone - there was the support of staff and the board, for example, in addressing the challenges of the pandemic and in the budgeting process.

In 2016, Rumage was named Friend of the Monmouth County Education Association and in 2022 received the Vin Gopal Civic Association Educational Leader Award.

Rumage serves on the executive board of the Monmouth County Roundtable and the New Jersey Association of School Administrators Special Education and Professional Development Committee. His efforts have led to numerous accolades for fiscal responsibility, exemplary educators, and competitive grant awards, the board said.