River Vale School District

609 Westwood Avenue

River Vale, New Jersey 07675

www.rivervaleschools.com

CONTACT: Margie Druss Fodor

(201) 358-9260

mfodor@rivervaleschools.com

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HOMECOMING FOR NEW HOLDRUM PRINCIPAL

Holdrum Middle School Principal Jaynellen Behre-Jenkins

RIVER VALE, NJ, SEPT. 5, 2003 – When Jaynellen Behre-Jenkins walked into Holdrum Middle School for the first time as the school’s new principal, she said it was as if she had never left.

A Holdrum social-studies teacher from September 1996 to June 1999, she is enjoying her homecoming. Behre-Jenkins, a Bloomfield (NJ) High School assistant principal for the last four years, was hired in May to replace Dr. Phyllis Prestia. Dr. Prestia is retiring Nov. 1 after 11 years with the district.

“It’s great to be back,” Behre-Jenkins said. “I look forward to rekindling my relationship with former colleagues, introducing myself to the rest of the staff and getting to know all the students by name.”

One of her many goals is to develop a shared vision with the staff. She also hopes to garner more state recognition for Holdrum. Behre-Jenkins has presented middle-school education workshops on a state and national level.

“There are so many great things going on here at Holdrum,” she said.

Besides the construction upgrade to improve the entire district, Behre-Jenkins cites increased technology as one of the many positive changes she has seen. While a social-studies teacher in 1999, she served as the Goals 2000 Leadership Associate. One of the goals was to boost technology. More computers throughout the school help students prepare for their future in the work force, she said.

“We knew students were going to need more access to technology,” she said. “Now that I’m back, I see that has been fulfilled.”

Board of Education member Oliver Fuchs had many positive comments to make about the new principal: “I am excited about Jaynellen because she brings some fresh, new exciting ideas that are taking place in the field of education. Her experiences with integrating technology into the classroom are a great asset with the new enhancements the district has made and will continue to make in updating the schools technology.”

Behre-Jenkins also has a lot of experience with children in and out of a school setting. The youngest of five children raised in Bloomfield, she has six nieces and seven nephews. Her husband of two years, Steven Jenkins, is a Physical Education/Health teacher and coach in Bloomfield.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of the River Vale PTA

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