Duerbig's Rebel Pride Puts Her With Best Principals Around the Country

Talking to Principal Zina Duerbig it does not take long to see how much pride she takes in being a part of the Rebel community. As she starts her ninth year at the school she does so having recently been honored as the Principal of the Year for the state of New Jersey.

Duerbig got the honor as a result of recommendations from several people throughout the town and the district including the superintendent, teachers in the building and students. She also credited a letter from Howell Mayor Robert Walsh for helping her reach the accomplishment.

When she found out last spring that she had been given the honor, Duerbig said it was something that meant a lot to her. "It was an amazing accomplishment to be validated that I had dedicated my whole life to education," she said. "To have this kind of validation was just overwhelming. It was amazing. Absolutely amazing."

On Sept. 21, Duerbig joined her fellow honorees from around the country for a three day trip to Washington DC. During her visit she got the chance to meet Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Rep. Chris Smith. It was during her visit with the congressman that Duerbig said she got to see how special of a district she works in as four of the people in his office were graduates from the local schools. 

The fact that she was able to share that experience with the other principals at the event made the trip that much more special. "You just felt so proud to be able to share that with the principals that I met from other states," she said. "I don't think anyone else could say that they could walk into the office and there was a graduate of one of their schools."

Part of the trip also included being able to see the senate in session and hear a speech from Education Secretary Arne Duncan. "We were treated so beautifully there," she said. "Getting to talk with people who make a difference in our country every single day and to be heard and listened to and to talk about the present state of education and the concerns that we have here in New Jersey was wonderful."

For as much as she enjoyed her trip, Duerbig said being able to come back to the school and the district she loves was even more special. "It's such a privilage and such an honor," she said of her job. "The community is really special. The children are just amazing and they go on to do such wonderful and great things."

Of all of her accomplishments at the school Duerbig said the fact that she has seen the school community come together during her tenure is the thing she is most proud of. "It's a team and it's a team effort here at Howell," she said. "We've raised the bar here at Howell. We've made people aware what it means to be Howell High School students and the pride that we have at our school and the spirit that exists here is infectious."

This is Duerbig's second stint with the Rebels having served as the english supervisor from 1993 to 1995. From there she was an assistant principal at Marlboro before coming to the place she affectionately calls "home." And while she was honored for her work as an administrator, Duerbig said she always knew she would be an english teacher, a dream she accomplished during a long tenure at Monmouth Regional High School that stretched from 1976 to 1993. 

During the few times she is not around the school, Duerbig said she spends time with Jim, her husband of 36 years. "He's my rock," she said. "He is extremely supportive and understands. My family has always sacrificed so much for me to do what I do because I can't do it halfway, I have to do it all the way."

Duerbig and her husband have one child, 29-year-old daughter Melissa who graduated from Jackson Memorial High School and Lehigh University. Having lived in Jackson for more than three decades, she said the Jaguars are the only team in the conference that can challenge her allegiance to the Rebels. "It's very difficult," she said of when the teams compete. "Especially Saturday mornings shopping in the supermarket if we don't win." When they do win however, she said she enjoys being able to gloat about her school's success. 

When she finally closes her education career, Duerbig said she would like to write a book with the title inspired by events from this year. "The book is going to be called 'A Snow Day in August,'" she said. When schools were closed for Hurricane Irene, she told FRHSD that the unexpected day off felt like a snow day in August even though students had yet to arrive for their first day. "I've always wanted to do that, eventually write something," she said. "I think at some point in my life I will have time for that."