Six decades in education
My father, Robert Roth, began his teaching career in January 1968 as a student teacher at Englewood Middle School. A graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a minor in German, Roth later earned a master’s in history and government from East Texas State University and returned to FDU for his New Jersey teaching certificate.
After completing student teaching, Roth moved to Butler Middle School, where he taught history and math to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. His commute from Fort Lee was often delayed by traffic or flooding on Route 23. Butler offered him a contract beginning in September 1968, but Roth had already signed with Toms River High School for $7,200 a year, turning down a slightly higher offer from Tinton Falls. For perspective, his apartment rent was $180 a month.
Roth began teaching at Toms River High School—later renamed Toms River High School South—in September 1968. He taught in Room D8 until 2005, when he moved to Room D2. In 1971, Roth met Caroline, a school secretary, and they married in 1973.
Early in his career, Roth advised a folk music club called “The Experience,” which performed at nursing homes. He also served as senior class adviser. Just last year, he appeared as the Pope in the school’s production of “Sister Act” and was named an honorary thespian.
This September, Roth began his 58th year teaching high school and his 44th year as an adjunct professor of economics at Ocean County College. He has worked under at least seven principals and five superintendents. Some of his former students have gone on to teach full careers and retire.
Roth emphasizes connecting with students personally. He supports social-emotional learning, noting that both students and teachers have difficult days. He believes today’s parents are more positively involved in their children’s education and often ask how they can help.
Respect, Roth says, must be earned and reciprocated. He values learning from his students and hearing their ideas. He avoids using the classroom as a platform for personal beliefs, instead focusing on creating a space where students can learn and enjoy themselves. He has expressed interest in teaching geography and architecture, and in tying art and music into history lessons.
Roth is currently the longest-serving teacher at Toms River High School South and in the entire district. Research is underway to confirm whether he holds the record for longest tenure in the 134-year history of Toms River Schools, which opened in 1891. The district now includes 19 schools and learning centers.
Though he no longer wears a sports coat daily, Roth continues to dress in a button-down shirt and tie. As his son, I joke, “Dad, you’ve been teaching so long that when you first started, history was current events.”
Chris Roth is the son of Robert Roth and a seventh- and eighth-grade science teacher at Brigantine Community School. He is currently in his 25th year teaching in New Jersey public schools.