Manchester Township High School Principal, David Walling, announced his retirement, effective at the end of this school year, at the December 19 Board of Education meeting. 

Walling has been an educator for 33 years, 32 of them in Manchester.  He came to Manchester in 1976, as a Health & Physical Education teacher at Ridgeway Elementary School.  He transferred to Manchester Middle School when it opened in 1984 and took on the additional responsibility of Athletic Coordinator.  In 1992, he was appointed as the district’s Director of Athletics and Supervisor of Health & Physical Education.  He was named Vice Principal at Manchester Township High School in 1994 and was appointed as Principal in July of 2000.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the Manchester Township learning community for 32 years,” remarked Walling.    “I have had the good fortune of working with outstanding educators, administrators and a terrific Board of Education, all of whom have made by job so much easier.    The successes we have had at Manchester Township High School are due entirely to the collaborative efforts of a dedicated group of professionals.    Among those successes of which I feel very proud are the facility project completed three years ago, improved test scores and the volunteerism of our students in service to the school and community.    I am especially proud of the leadership capacity among our professional staff as they continually strive to improve the quality of education for the children we share.”

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. William E. DeFeo, praised Walling for his outstanding career.  He said that Walling spoke about the high school’s programs at a recent county curriculum meeting and, afterward, County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Bruce Greenfield, had very high praise for Walling and the school.

“If you visit other schools in the county, you will realize that Manchester High School is among the best in Ocean County,” said DeFeo.  “Mr. Walling has just done an outstanding job.  In fact, I think he’s at his peak and I am sorry to see him go.  But I have the utmost confidence in our exceptional high school staff and I know that they will make it easy for the next principal to continue along the same path to excellence.”