The 2025โ2026 school year roared out of the gate Monday morning (Aug. 11) as Linden Public Schoolsโ district leaders traded blazers for cowboy hats, boots, and plenty of rodeo spirit. The week-long Administrative Leadership Retreat got underway with the โLPS Administrative Rodeoโ โ a western-themed kickoff at School No. 1 that wrangled together lighthearted team-building games, toe-tapping line dancing, and serious, goal-driven presentations.
It was part pep rally, part strategy session, and part good old-fashioned roundup. Between a baby-photo โWantedโ poster game, a parking lot line dance to โBoots on the Ground,โ and Superintendent Dr. Atiya Y. Perkinsโ โTrailblazing Leadershipโ address, the day blended high-spirited fun with a laser focus on the mission ahead: empowering all learners and keeping students at the center of every decision.
๐ผ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ
The morning opened with โBaby Bounty: Name That Deputyโ โ a spirited icebreaker where administratorsโ baby photos were displayed on western-style wanted posters, each with a humorous โclaim to fame,โ from โKnown for Wearing Flip Flopsโ to โKnown for Being Craftyโ or โKnown for Living Off Pomptonian Lunch.โ
Laughter filled the room as guesses were made, and Soehl Middle School Vice Principal Angelo Monaco earned bragging rights for correctly identifying the most โdeputies.โ
๐ฝ๐ค๐ค๐ฉ๐จ, ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฝ๐ค๐ค๐ฉ๐จ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐
For the โBoots, Fuel, and BBQโ lunch break, leaders moseyed outside into the sun-splashed, balmy parking lot of School No. 1, where the aroma of barbecue set the scene. Director of Human Resources Dr. Kayla Lott took the lead in teaching the popular line dance โBoots on the Ground,โ drawing plenty of cheers and more than a few playful yeehaws. The laughter and music carried across the lot before everyone headed back inside to the cool for a full lunch and the afternoon session.
๐๐ฉ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐๐ช๐จ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ
While the cowboy hats and dancing set a lighthearted tone, Dr. Perkinsโ message was clear:
โ๐ช๐ฒ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ. ๐ช๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ. ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐น๐น, ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐.โ
She stressed the importance of visibility, responsiveness, and modeling professionalism, reminding administrators that the districtโs strategic plan โ effective September 1 โ will serve as the compass for every decision.
This yearโs instructional focus will center on standards-based, student-centered learning, with a renewed emphasis on engagement, differentiation, and amplifying student voice. Dr. Perkins also underscored the need to strengthen connections with parents, address equity gaps, and embrace technology, including the responsible integration of AI into classrooms.