The 2025–2026 school year roared out of the gate Monday morning (Aug. 11) as Linden Public Schools’ district leaders traded blazers for cowboy hats, boots, and plenty of rodeo spirit. The week-long Administrative Leadership Retreat got underway with the “LPS Administrative Rodeo” — 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 “Wanted” poster game, a parking lot line dance to “Boots on the Ground,” and Superintendent Dr. Atiya Y. Perkins’ “Trailblazing Leadership” 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.
𝘼 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
The morning opened with “Baby Bounty: Name That Deputy” — a spirited icebreaker where administrators’ baby photos were displayed on western-style wanted posters, each with a humorous “claim to fame,” from “Known for Wearing Flip Flops” to “Known for Being Crafty” or “Known for Living Off Pomptonian Lunch.”
Laughter filled the room as guesses were made, and Soehl Middle School Vice Principal Angelo Monaco earned bragging rights for correctly identifying the most “deputies.”
𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨, 𝘽𝘽𝙌, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙
For the “Boots, Fuel, and BBQ” 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 “Boots on the Ground,” 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.
𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙁𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣
While the cowboy hats and dancing set a lighthearted tone, Dr. Perkins’ message was clear:
“𝗪𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗪𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.”
She stressed the importance of visibility, responsiveness, and modeling professionalism, reminding administrators that the district’s strategic plan — effective September 1 — will serve as the compass for every decision.
This year’s 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.