New super no stranger to Brick schools
BY DANIELLE MEDINA Correspondent
The office of the superintendent is empty, but that doesn't mean that the district's new chief isn't hard at work.

ERIC SUCAR staff New Superintendent of Schools Walter J. Hrycenko shares a laugh with a co-worker at the Brick school administration offices on Hendrickson Avenue Friday.

"It's been a little hectic," Superintendent of Schools Walter J. Hrycenko said of his first five weeks on the job. "There's been no time to move into the office."

Hrycenko, 53, was promoted from assistant superintendent to superintendent on Aug. 28.

He spent his first month visiting every school during opening week, compiling state reports that are due at the end of September, and handling the workload from his old position.

"The biggest change is the feeling of responsibility I have," said Hrycenko, who was the district's assistant superintendent since 2002. "As an assistant superintendent, you deal only with the schools. Now it's everything — transportation, buildings and grounds. You have a hand in everything."

Luckily for Hrycenko, the transition has gone smoothly.

"I'm very grateful to the Board of Education," he said. "They know me and I know them. That makes a big difference. You don't have that getting-to-know-you period."

Hrycenko also gave credit to the administration and staff in the school district.

"I have always said that the best thing about Brick Township is the people you work with," he said. "They are very dedicated and they share what they have to help students reach their potential."

He finds a quote by Nelson Mandela inspirational.

"It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership."

Hrycenko also believes in making decisions based on consensus, because good schools are important for the entire community, not just for people with families.

"I said when I was appointed that this is not my district. It's our district," he said. "I really believe in building support by working with the community so they know what we're doing in the schools. You need everybody to buy in."

Hrycenko said he believes that the key to success lies in building good relationships — between teachers and students, between administrators and teachers, and between schools and the community.

He also stressed the importance of the parent-child relationship in education.

"Parents are the first teachers," said Hrycenko, a married father of three. "If they can do it, it's important for families to have meals together. Students today have so many more challenges facing them — texting, the Internet and cell phones. Kids need to know they can go to adults."

Although he has been very focused on day-to-day operations, Hrycenko pointed out some of the challenges facing the district.

"I'd have to say number one on the list is facilities," said Hrycenko. "Like most districts, we haven't been good at preventative maintenance."

Hrycenko said that the district's long-range facility plan has been submitted to the state for approval.

Another challenge is meeting the changing high school graduation requirements set by the state.

"We need to look at how we're going to best prepare students for college," said Hrycenko. "And if a child doesn't want to go to college, do they need the same type of education?"

Hrycenko believes that whichever path a high school student takes, he or she should have the ability to make the choice that is right for that student.

"I want students to know that they have options, and we need to give them the tools and the ability to do what they want to do," Hrycenko said. "I really believe that the purpose of high school is to prepare kids for life."

Preparing special education students for their transition to college, where there are no Individualized Education Programs

IEP), is also something Hrycenko believes is important.

"We need to prepare them to be self-advocates," he said. "They have to know how to approach teachers."

At the elementary level, Hrycenko said a state-mandated preschool program for economically disadvantaged students is slated for next year.

The transportation department is running much more smoothly than several years ago, he said.

"There are still bumps in the road," he said, "but the transportation department has done a very good job at handling the complaints at their level. We haven't gotten many complaints at this level."

Hrycenko was hired as the district's science supervisor in 1998. He began his career as a science teacher at Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, and taught at Monsignor Donovan High School, Toms River.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Fairfield University and two master's degrees — one in education and one in educational administration — from Georgian Court University.

He is also certified as a school administrator, school business administrator, principal, subject supervisor and science teacher.

Hrycenko and his wife, Loretto, a nurse, reside in Toms River. Their daughter, Mary, recently graduated from St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, and teaches English at Barnegat High School. Their son, Christopher, is a sophomore at Rowan University, majoring in art. Their youngest son, Kevin, is a freshman at Monsignor Donovan High School.