Principal's Message

Welcome to G. Austin Schoenly Elementary School! It is both a privilege and an honor to serve as principal of Schoenly School, a place that truly feels like home. From the moment you walk through our doors, you can feel the warmth, care, and sense of community that make Schoenly such a special place for children and families.

Growing up in nearby Old Bridge and spending the first 18.5 years of my career there, coming to Spotswood felt immediately familiar and comfortable. Since beginning my career in education in 2005, I have served in a variety of roles including classroom teacher, intervention teacher, and elementary administrator. These experiences have strengthened my belief in supporting the whole child and building strong partnerships among students, staff, families, and the community.

At Schoenly, we believe that a child’s first school experience should be joyful, engaging, and memorable. Our school helps lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning, while also helping students develop confidence, independence, problem solving skills, and positive relationships with others. Through play, practice, collaboration, and meaningful classroom experiences, our students build the academic and social emotional skills necessary for future success.

During my first year at Schoenly, our school community came together to create a stronger school identity by selecting both a mascot and name that reflected the heart of our school. Today, Tony the Schoenly Pony has become an important part of our school culture and can be found throughout the building alongside our Pony Pledge. Whether it's through our monthly Student of Character Parade, weekly Schoenly Shout Outs, or classroom PBIS celebrations, we work together to create a positive environment where students feel valued, supported, and celebrated.

One of the things that makes Schoenly truly special is the dedication of our staff. Our teachers and support staff go above and beyond each day to foster a caring and engaging learning environment where every child is known and respected. In addition to strong academics, our classrooms emphasize character education, social emotional learning, and the Zones of Regulation framework to help students build important life skills from an early age.

We also believe deeply in the importance of strong school-home partnerships. Families are an essential part of the Schoenly community, and we value the insight, support, and involvement they provide. Whether volunteering at special events, attending school celebrations, reading our monthly newsletters, or simply maintaining open communication with teachers and staff, families play an important role in student success. Together, we can create the strongest possible support system for our children.

Throughout the school year, our students and families enjoy opportunities to come together through events such as Read Across America Spirit Week, Autism Awareness activities, classroom celebrations, and our preschool, kindergarten, and first grade milestone ceremonies. We are proud to be part of a close-knit community where schools, families, and local leaders work together to support our students.

Schoenly is often the beginning of a child’s educational journey, and we are honored to be part of those important first experiences. Our goal is to create a welcoming environment where children feel safe, supported, and excited to learn each day.

We look forward to partnering with your family and working together to help every child grow, succeed, and shine. My door is always open, and I encourage families to reach out at any time with questions, concerns, or ideas.