Safety & Wellness
Physical and emotional safety, trusted support systems, mental-health resources, and student well-being are essential for success.
Strategic Plan 2026–2031 Green Brook · Long Hill · Warren · Watchung
Our path forward · 2026–2031
Discover your voice.
Define your path.
Develop your passion.
A community-built strategic plan designed to help every Watchung Hills student thrive in an evolving world.
The foundation
Mission, values, and vision
The plan begins with shared beliefs about the learning environment our students need—and the future our community wants to build together.
“The 2031 vision outlines observable outcomes: equitable opportunity, learning beyond the classroom, trusted relationships, transparent leadership, a welcoming culture, and future-ready facilities and resources.”
Teaching & Learning
Rigorous, equitable, student-centered learning should build critical thinking, problem-solving, and meaningful opportunity.
Leadership & Governance
Transparent, accountable, inclusive leadership should remain focused on students and guided by integrity and clear communication.
Community & Culture
A welcoming culture of kindness, respect, collaboration, belonging, school pride, and inclusion strengthens the entire community.
Finance & Facilities
Responsible, transparent investment in safe, modern spaces and resources should place student learning and well-being first.
Listening to our data
A strong foundation and room to grow.
The planning team studied stakeholder perspectives, student learning, school processes, and climate data to identify the gap between today’s reality and the 2031 vision.
Four priority goals
The strategic bridge to 2031
Open each goal to view selected annual milestones.
01Student-centered experienceContinue to foster a student-centered approach to enhance the overall WHRHS experience.+
- By June 2027, audit assessment and grading practices, the Program of Studies, and alternative-credit pathways.
- By June 2028, expand student-centered assessment models, future pathways, and supports for underrepresented students.
- By June 2029, revise the Program of Studies to reflect updated scope, sequences, and pathways.
02Meaningful connectionsStrengthen engagement and meaningful connections across the learning community.+
- By January 2027, empower students through a new ASC/GLC structure to create regular events.
- By June 2028, select engagement proposals and create a metric to evaluate progress.
- By June 2029, gather data and convene stakeholders to review effectiveness.
03Future-ready resourcesProvide faculty and students the resources, materials, and facilities to be successful in an ever-evolving world.+
- By January 2027, identify referendum facility projects and submit them to the State.
- By June 2028, identify recurring revenue sources and prioritize transparent allocation.
- By June 2030, complete a major Long-Range Facility Plan update.
04Inclusive learning climateBuild inclusive, relationship-driven learning environments that promote kindness, belonging, safety, and social-emotional growth for all.+
- By October 2026, create a stakeholder climate committee informed by NJSCI results.
- By June 2028, begin implementing frameworks for a positive, safe, and kind climate.
- By June 2030, implement initiatives designed to reduce subgroup disparities.
How the plan was built
Designed with our community
More than 40 stakeholders across students, staff, families, leadership, the Board, and the community helped turn data and dialogue into a shared direction.
February–May 2025
Planning partnership
The Board issued an RFP and awarded the planning contract to TMI Education.
Summer–September 2025
Data and input
Data collection, surveys, a stakeholder session, and SWOT analysis established the starting point.
October 2025–February 2026
Core planning
The core team developed the values, mission, vision, gap analysis, goals, and annual benchmarks.
March 2026
Implementation
Staff teams translated the long-range goals into Year 1 action planning.
May 12, 2026
Plan presented
The finalized strategic plan was shared with the Board and school community.
The road to 2031
Our strategic roadmap
From listening and planning to implementation and annual review, this pathway shows where we have been, where we are now, and what comes next.
2025 · Completed
Listen and learn
Planning partnership, district data collection, stakeholder session, surveys, and SWOT analysis.
Oct 2025–Feb 2026 · Completed
Build the foundation
Core-team work on values, mission, future trends, vision, gap analysis, goals, and benchmarks.
Mar–May 2026 · Completed
Turn vision into a plan
Implementation teams developed Year 1 actions, and the strategic plan was finalized and presented.
2026–2027 · Current phase
Launch Year 1
Begin the pathway audit, climate committee, student-led events, facility planning, and recurring-revenue work.
2027–2028 · Road ahead
Expand and implement
Act on audit findings, broaden supports, select engagement proposals, allocate resources, and introduce climate frameworks.
2028–2029 · Road ahead
Measure and adapt
Update programs, review engagement data, evaluate resource decisions, and refine supports.
2029–2030 · Road ahead
Strengthen the system
Complete the major facility-plan update and implement initiatives that reduce student-experience disparities.
2031 · The destination
The vision realized
Every student is prepared to discover their voice, define their path, and develop their passion.
Plan resources
Read, share, and revisit the work
With gratitude
A Special Thanks
We gratefully recognize the individuals whose time, insight, collaboration, and commitment helped shape the Watchung Hills Regional School District Strategic Plan.
- Dr. Elizabeth C. JewettSuperintendent
- Jana BattiloroHighschool Teacher
- Dan BertelliSupervisor of Arts
- Cassie BiniukowHighschool CST Member
- Anita BykSupervisor of Social Studies
- Barbara CappucciHighschool Counselor
- Nicole CarroDirector of Human Resources
- Alines CiriacoHighschool Teacher
- Brad CommerfordSupervisor of World Language
- Michael D’AlessioDirector of Math & Business Assessment
- Laura D’AmatoDirector of Special Education
- Sal FazzinoHighschool Teacher
- James FlakkerHighschool Vice Principal
- Kate GriffinHighschool Teacher
- Gina HeinemanSupervisor of Science
- Emily JordanHighschool Teacher
- Maureen KellyParaProfessional
- Greg KruegerHighschool Teacher
- Sophie LamHighschool student
- Catherine LeighBoard Member
- Amanda LevinHighschool Teacher
- Bill LibreraHighschool Principal
- Peter MartinHighschool Teacher
- Anthony MelusoDirector of Technology
- Tara MilesGuidance Counselor
- Sonya NikhilHighschool Student
- Mary Ellen PhelanSupervisor of Humanities
- Mike PisaniBuildings and Grounds
- Janine PotterBoard Member
- Carol PrasaBoard Member
- Tricia RexfordParent
- Daniel Root Athletic Director
- Jason SabinoDirector of Counseling
- Juliana SantosHighschool Student
- Pam SassoAdministrative Assistant
- Dan ScanlonGuidance Counselor
- Beth ScheidermanStaff
- Billy ScholtsBusiness Administrator
- Rich SeubertHighschool Coach
- Charles SevereHighschool Student
- Georgea ShikarParent
- Jaspal SinghParent
- Mark SnowdenDirector of Operations
- Florencia SquizziatoParent
- Andrew TronzanoHighschool Teacher
- Heather TrumporeBoard Member
- Angela ValerioHighschool Nurse
- Marisa WalshPresident of Teachers’ Association
- Darrin WolskoHighschool Teacher
- Kai YangHighschool Student
- Cara YuknisHighschool Teacher
Thank you for helping define a shared path toward 2031.