BERKELEY – While it was the first day in Central Regional Middle School for some students, it’s also the first day as principal for Joseph Toth.
He replaces Joseph Firetto, who had been principal since 2008, and who was also his mentor during Toth’s graduate school.
Toth is supported by Carrie Parent, assistant principal for grade 7, and Kevin Buscio, assistant principal for grade 8.
The 2026-2027 school year started off as any other, he said. It did have its changes, though.
The kids are getting used to the new statewide ban on the use of personal internet devices in schools, he said. There are also smaller changes taking place, such as kids not going to the media center for lunch.
He doesn’t expect to institute any huge changes during his first year. He sees his role as listening and learning – to see what’s needed and adapt.
One constant goal is making sure there is a unity between the middle and high schools, he said. It’s important that incoming 7th graders know that not only are they starting a new school, they are beginning a six-year journey through all of Central.
Originally from Bergen County, he’s had grandparents living in Berkeley senior communities, so he became familiar with the Jersey shore. While passing by the Central campus, he used to think “I want to work there someday.”
He “fell in love with beach,” and now he lives in Seaside Park where he is also on the Borough Council and chairs the Municipal Alliance.
His first full-time job in education was in 2014, teaching history at the school where he’s now principal. He had five years as a Middle School resource social studies teacher, then four years as a general education history teacher at the high school.
While working at the high school, he created an elective course called “Holocaust and genocide studies.”
He rose up to fill other roles such as dean of students, acting assistant principal, and acting district supervisor of pupil services until becoming an assistant principal at the high school for the last two years.
Parents have a strong presence in the district. He estimated that there was 65% parental involvement in the recent 7th grade orientation. Mirroring this, if students have a voice in their future, they’ll take a more active role, he said.
This is a significant goal, making sure students feel like they are part of the school community. “I want kids to feel seen, heard, and valued,” he said.
Experts say that kids who might be struggling with academics or something going on at home need extracurricular activities or other supports to give them reasons to keep coming to school. Toth agrees with that educational philosophy, asking “How can we get them excited to want to come to school?”
A lot of staff members are alumni of Central, which gives credit to the system. “This is a great school district,” he said. “There’s a reason it’s a Choice district,” which is a program where students from other districts can come here on a tuition basis.
The post New Middle School Principal Shares His Goals for Students appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.
