MANCHESTER – Students and staff of the Manchester Township Middle School enjoyed a special guest, New York Giant Casey Kreiter who shared some personal history about himself and offered a little advice.
Kreiter, the Giants long snapper, came out to meet, engage, and motivate students.
He discussed his experience as a professional athlete and how community involvement is a core value of the Giants franchise and the players who represent them. He noted that he was a former science teacher and spent time with students in their science classes.
He took students’ questions and discussed his experience as a professional athlete and how it relates to academic and social responsibilities. Kreiter spoke at length with students about the importance of setting goals and being well-rounded.
The athlete also spoke with students about aspects of school that he vividly remembered such as drama performances, school musicals, playing multiple sports, participating in school clubs, and even his love of video games.
New York Giants Football player Casey Kreiter visited with Manchester Township Middle School students recently. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
Kreiter told The Manchester Times, “today was about celebrating educators and to talk to some of these kids and hopefully give them a positive message and help them learn and grow and help them find success later in life.”
He also encouraged students to not only set goals but to use those goals as a way to measure their decision-making, especially in tough situations. “When you have goals, you can make the right choices. Set your goals and let them guide you when tough decisions cross your path. Ask yourself if your decision is going to help or hinder you from achieving your goal.”
Students were visibly engaged with the Giants player and his encouraging and inspirational messages. He focused on the importance of striving to be kind, well-rounded humans, students, and involved citizens. He spoke to students not only about goal setting but also about the importance of finding success through being involved, having healthy routines, and a positive support system.
He shared with them that “without failure, you cannot understand success. Failure does not mean you did something wrong if you learned something from that failed experience, which is most important.”
“Success is a constant up-and-down process, not a steady climb. Learn from all of the slopes along the way,” Kreiter added. “Being a former educator it is always fun to get into schools and share my story and just relate to the kids. I was a kid who much like these guys needed direction and goals in life.”
“I was lucky to find my way and had great mentors who helped me in life to get where I was going and I think it is really important to share my own story,” Kreiter added. “I taught for two years and have a degree in science education before landing my first job in (football) in Denver.”
He was signed as a rookie free agent by the Dallas Cowboys on May 12, 2014 and signed by Dallas on March 17, 2015. He was also signed by the Denver Broncos in the spring of 2016 and was signed as a free agent by the Giants on April 1, 2020
Kreiter played in every regular-season game each of the last eight seasons and made 14 special teams tackles and was chosen for the AFC Pro Bowl team following the 2018 season.
His visit was in conjunction with the MTMS Saddle-Up for Success Campaign which is a play on words as it relates to the school’s mascot, a Mustang horse.
The MTMS Saddle Up for Success Campaign is focused on encouraging students to attend school every day and to do their best to create a positive school culture through supportive and encouraging student interactions, educational goal setting, and helping students strive toward success.
Additionally, MTHS student Joliece Reyes, the first ever honoree to be awarded by the NFL was recognized in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), with the NFL Latino Youth Honor. This award recognizes outstanding high school tackle and flag football athletes from around the country for their academic and athletic excellence.
Reyes inspired MTMS students by sharing about her time at MTMS, her achievements on and off the flag football field at MTHS, and what it means to be a student-athlete.
The day’s visit came about through the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA)’s partnership with the New York Giants as a presenting partner of the Giants Educator of the Week platform.
New York Giants player Casey Kreiter signs autographs for Manchester Township Middle School students during a recent assembly in the school’s gymnasium. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
The Middle School has two educators who were recognized by the Giants – science teacher Susan Morgan and science teacher Kristine Laporte – as Educators of the Week and one who was recognized as Educator of the Year – social studies teacher Michael Balog.
The Educators of the Week received a $1,000 donation from the Giants for enhancements to their working environment. The Educator of the Year received a $2,500 donation from the Giants to an entity chosen within the educator’s school.
Morgan and Laporte said they were currently working on designing and planning a hands-on experience for students. In a joint statement they told The Manchester Times, “Ideally, we would like to create a program that would allow students the chance to visit different locations to collect scientific data and analyze it.”
Money from the grant will be used to purchase equipment that would coincide with this experience and would then be able to be used from year to year. “We are in the planning phase of this idea and it may change but these are our initial thoughts, and are very excited and grateful to be able to give our students this experience and opportunity,” the teachers said.
Superintendent Diane Pedroza, wearing her Giants jersey, expressed her gratitude “for our partnership with the New York Giants and the recognition of our outstanding educators. Their dedication to student success and engagement is truly commendable. At MTMS, we remain committed to fostering a positive school culture, and initiatives like Saddle Up for Success play a vital role in that effort.”
“Thank you again to the New York Giants for recognizing the hard work of our educators and for supporting our initiatives that make a lasting impact on our students,” she added.
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