Left to right: Red Bank Regional Principal Risa Clay is pictured celebrating her being honored as a Partner in Education by the Community Affairs and Resource Center with her colleagues, RBR Interim Superintendent Tom Pagano, SOURCE Director Suzanne Keller, and SOURCE academic specialist Joseph Cerbone. 

Press release from Red Bank Regional High School

On the evening of April 24, Red Bank Regional High School principal Risa Clay was honored by the Community Affairs and Resource Center (CARC) with their Partner in Education Award, during the organization’s fifth annual Black & White Gala reception at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel.

Mrs. Clay, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, was honored for her work with RBR’s Latino students who are served by the SOURCE, the school based youth service program which she established 15 years ago. She also created an award winning- model program for English Language Learning (ELL) instruction and success. The program was responsible for RBR’s continued very high attendance and graduation rates among its ELL students, many of whom were able to afford college through a scholarship program she established with a private benefactor, The Andrew Kroon Memorial Scholarship, and a program with Brookdale College.

“As educators we are more than teachers, we are coaches, nurses, cheerleaders and innovators,” Mrs. Clay stated in her acceptance speech. “Each of us has the chance to make a difference every day in a child’s life…students must believe that WE believe in them, and that as educators we believe that they have the ability to succeed.”

Along with Mrs. Clay, other esteemed members of the community were honored by CARC, including Assemblyman Sean Kean (Outstanding Public Servant Award); Tania and Clem Lisitski (Humanitarian Couple the Year); Vin Gopal (Partner in Community Development), and Alan Manzo (Ambassador of the Arts).

Formerly known as the Hispanic Affairs and Resource Center, CARC is a nonprofit social service organization with locations in Asbury Park and Freehold, providing social services to economically disadvantaged individuals and families throughout Monmouth County with the goal of revitalizing the communities served. Although originally targeting the Latino  populations settling in Monmouth County, CARC has expanded its outreach to “all people regardless of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or functional capacity.” For more information visit their website at http://carcnj.org/.