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A funny thing happened on the way to a planned event at Second Baptist Church on Atkins Avenue, being held in honor of Asbury Park Superintendent Lamont Repollet; he was tapped by Gov. Phil Murphy to become the state’s next Commissioner of Education.

“The event was planned months ago,” said Daniel Harris [at right], a deacon of the church who heads the the Men’s Ministry, who sponsored event.

The appointment meant a temporary embargo on any public appearances, church pastor Semaj Vanzant explained at the Saturday morning Prayer Breakfast.

In his place was Director of Student Services, Dr. Kristie Howard Kristie Howard, who credited Repollet for embracing programs that take a holistic approach to fostering a child’s education.

“Dr. Repollet brought the phrase Building a Brighter Future to Asbury Park,” Howard said. “Not only do we harp on academics but we are moving and shifting to another area that is social and emotional learning.”

Through Howard’s recommendations and oversight, the district has implemented programs that address everything from self discipline to health and wellness.

“In a nutshell, it pretty much teaches our children how to act and interact with others,” Howard said. “It’s not something that is a separate entity; it is a part of learning.”

For example, the district’s responsive classroom program allows students to shed whatever his happening in their lives outside of education through a morning meditation circle.

“It’s not personal sometimes when students come in and they angry and lash out,” Howard [at right] said. “It is because of something they went through the night before or that morning. And so, with the responsive classroom, the morning circle allows the teacher to guide the morning and how they want the day to go.”

“As you know, when you have anxiety you can’t learn,” Howard said. “Teaching is not only an art, it is a science.”  

Howard, a former East Orange educator and Essex County Vice Principal, volunteers her time with the Asbury Park Community Action Network Expungement Program, which helps applicable residents clear incarcerations from records in order to move forward in life.

Through her social-emotional learning team, Howard is able to educate her educators about the brain and its flight or flight responses in order to help a child focus on learning.

“Dr. Repollet trusted me enough to know that I wasn’t going bring a program that was not going to help the students,” Howard said. “The long and short is that we are doing things like restorative justice practices that shifts from punishment to learning.”

Howard said after they began implementing the program last year, the data showed that 20 percent of the student body were receiving suspensions.

“It was the same kids being suspended over and over,” Howard said.

To combat the behavior, the district implemented the alternative learning lab, whereby the worst offenders were given organizational responsibilities for school events to foster a climate of self pride and governance.

In totality, the district has seen a 66 percent decrease in suspensions, chronic absenteeism rates fell, and literacy and graduation rates increased.

Howard said the district will look to pair with civic organization and city’s businesses to offer kids who fall under suspension an alternative to sitting home – instead they will be mentored through community service hours.  

“We are moving in the right direction, I think,” she said. “We are educating the whole child. Thank God that Dr. Repollet is there because we are hoping that in every urban school district, social and emotional learning will be a large part of education.”

Mayor John Moor said he was not disappointed by Repollet absense.

“I’m not sad because this was done for him and I know he appreciates it,” Moor said. “We are so for fortunate that he is our Commissioner of Education. He may not be with us hear in body and soul but he is here in spirit and that means everything to me and everyone in this room. I cannot thank Second Baptist for all they do 365 days a year.”

Also in attendance was Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling [D-11] who said he will award a prepared proclamation to the new education commissioner at a later date. 

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