Board of Education Vice President Bob Abbott has been honored with the “Friend of Education” award.
By Krista Cerminaro
Washington Township Board of Education Vice President Bob Abbott may have just been honored with the Gloucester County Education Association’s Friend of Education Award for 2018 — but for him, it’s hardly about the recognition.
For the spunky 50-year Washington Township resident, it’s all about the little things — like kindergarteners learning the Pledge of Allegiance.
Abbott, whose children and grandchildren have gone through the district, previously served as PTA president at Birches Elementary School back in the ’70s, and started the Washington Township Presidents’ Council — a group comprised of PTO and Home and School Council representatives from each school in the district — as well as the Birches Craft Show, which has been going strong since.
Abbott was also commander for the VFW, and serves as chairman of the Veteran’s Advisory Board of Washington Township, which Abbott says is one of the fun parts.
“We started a program where we go in to the kindergarteners, and we make up a little certificate that has their name on it, for when they learn the Pledge of Allegiance. And that’s what makes it fun,” Abbott said. “If you have the kids from the school say the Pledge of Allegiance — you can hear that. The adults? Half of them ignore it, or don’t even know the words,” Abbott joked.
The Friend of Education Award is presented each year to members of the community, educators and other officials who present exemplary service to public education, and Abbott said he’s “still in shock” about receiving it.
“They called me and told me about it, and I said, ‘for what?’” Abbott said. “I just enjoy doing it. If you’re with the kids, it’s great. That’s №1 — that’s why. It’s not that I’m doing anything spectacular. If it’s something that betters the kids, if you get one kid that has a smile on their face … that’s what matters.”
Abbott’s role in the district stemmed from the influence of his wife, Eileen, who served on the board for 27 years and was president for eight.
“She’d come home, and I’d have to hear all about everything that went on with the school district. When she got sick, she couldn’t do it, and I ran for her seat and got it. And then, it was just the opposite,” Abbott said.
Abbott said when his wife began having heart problems, he decided to follow in her footsteps and run for a position.
“Anything that comes up, I’ve heard before,” Abbott said. “They’ll say something, I’ll say ‘wait a minute, they did that 30 years ago. It didn’t work — here’s why.’”
According to Abbott, some of the biggest accomplishments throughout his time on the board include implementing full-day kindergarten, redistricting, changing some of the staff and increasing the police presence within the schools.
“We used to pay for one SRO at the high school,” Abbott explained. “Ginny Murphy, who is president, and I — and one of the other ladies on the board — went out and spoke to all the legislators and [said], ‘you know, you’ve got to do something. Because you can’t afford hundreds and thousands of dollars a year just to have a cop in the school.’”
With the execution of SLEO III officers, the district is able to hire part-time retired police officers to provide additional security.
“We have one that goes around, but we don’t know where he’ll be,” Abbott said, “He’ll go from one school to another, [in] no set pattern, only as a deterrent — so you never know when a cop’s going to show up.”
Abbott has served on the board of education for six years, and has been vice president for five.
“I’m fortunate — being retired makes it a whole lot easier, because if you’ve got a full-time job, it’s tough. We’ve got some women on the board that work full-time,” Abbott explained. “It’s not easy. Of course, it’s not paid either.”
Additionally, Abbott serves as the vice president of the Gloucester County School Boards Association.
“One thing I want to do is attend a school board meeting for every district in the county,” Abbott noted. “It’s an education in itself.”
