Posts

Bob Fetterly ’71 to Enter BHS Hall of Fame

/in /by

Bloomfield, NJ —  Terry Mullane, Chairman of The Bloomfield Educational Foundation (BEF) announced Bob Fetterly ’71, will be inducted into the 2025 Bloomfield High School Hall of Fame.  Fetterly will be honored at the BEF Annual Gala, scheduled for April 30, 2025, from 6-10pm at Nanina’s in the Park, located in Belleville, NJ.  Reservations to attend this event can be made at www.bloomfieldeducationalfoundation.org

“We are pleased to recognize Bob’s exceptional athletic talents as well as his many years of dedicated service to both his high school alma mater and the community at large.  This is well deserved recognition for someone so humble and generous as Bob,” commented Mullane.

About Bob Fetterly ‘71

A member of the Bengals 1971 Group IV Champion Basketball team, Bob has made a profound impact on the athletic program through his generosity and mentorship.  A founder of The Bloomfield Educational Foundation – his legacy as an athlete and visionary are insured.

“Bob Fetterly has made a positive impact on BHS from his days as a member of the 1971 State Championship Basketball Team, to his role as a founding father of the BEF, and to his continuing support of student athletes today. Bob is the most altruistic person I have ever met,” said BHS Athletic Director, Steve Jenkins.

Bob Fetterly was born and raised in Bloomfield and graduated from BHS in 1971.  His mother, Virginia Flannery Fetterly, was Class of 1949 and his children Amanda ‘98 and Joseph ‘00 are also BHS graduates. Playing on the BHS State Championship basketball team affords him great memories.

A member of the Bloomfield Town Council from 1983 to 1993, Bob has always been active in the community. He was a CYO basketball coach at Sacred Heart, a founding Sunset Classic committee member, Lions Club member, Fifth Quarter Club President, and a founding member of the Bloomfield Educational Foundation.

In 1980 Fetterly founded Reliance Graphics which has become a leading Election Ballot printer serving several states.  A graduate of William Paterson College ’75, he swam on the school swim team and currently serves on the WPU Foundation Golf Committee. Bob also serves on the Board of Directors of Team Walker, which is a non-profit after-school program serving the youth of Jersey City.

Fetterly and his wife Wendy (Arnott) have five children and eight grandchildren who help occupy their time, along with Seton Hall basketball, golf, and the beach.

“The Bloomfield Educational Foundation has kept me in touch with BHS. The scholarships and programs supported by the Foundation are making a difference for the students in all the schools.  It is a privilege to serve with others on the Board who care about the same goals for the township,” Fetterly said.

About The BEF:

The BEF was founded in 1999, by community-minded leaders, Joseph Kliminski ‘61, Robert Fetterly ‘71 and Howard Friedman ‘59, with support from then Superintendent, Thomas Dowd.  Since that time, the BEF raised over $2.7 million and supported the District with over $2.1 million in teacher and District-wide grants and scholarships.  Many of the scholarship funds will award scholarships well into the future, as the result of many very generous supporters.  The BEF worked very well with the Bloomfield School District and funded innovative teaching programs and District-wide initiatives such as Science Fairs and after-school and Saturday programs at the Elementary level, media center upgrades, after-school programs and an outdoor classroom at the middle school, and the offering of free SAT prep classes, and AP Tests paid for by the BEF at the high school level.  These are just a few examples of the kinds of support the BEF has provided over the past two-and-a-half decades.

The BEF mission states the main goal of the organization is to enhance educational opportunities for all students in the Bloomfield School District.  This is accomplished by teachers and administrators submitting grant requests for funding of various projects that are not covered by the district budget.  Additionally, high school seniors are encouraged to fill out scholarship applications for funding awards to help defray the cost of a college, vo-tech or other learning experiences after high school.  In 2025, the BEF is offering 29 scholarships, many of which are funded by generous alumni, ranging from $500 to $5000 a piece and totaling $65,000, to be awarded at the June 2025 ceremony.

Another program that has received funds from the BEF is the Vocational Educational Special Training (V.E.S.T.) program at Bloomfield High School. The V.E.S.T. program services special needs students from ages 15 to 21 with the goal of providing the means to make the students independent and employable.  These students have benefitted from funds that have purchased laptops, smartboards, and funded educational trips to name a few projects.  The Sunset Classic Race Committee, headed by BEF Board member, Paul Giuliano, annually raises funds to support this vital program.  This year’s race will be held on Thursday June 26, 2025, at Foley Field, beginning at 6:30 with a Kids’ Sprints competition.  The 5 mile race kicks off at 7:30PM.

Additional fund raisers scheduled for the 2025 year include a Football Tailgate event at Town Pub on Oct.24, and an Alumni Basketball Tip Off event at Bella Napoli in the fall, date to be announced.  For more information about the 2025 events, kindly visit the website www.bloomfieldeducationalfoundation.org

The Bloomfield Educational Foundation is a registered 501c-3 organization.  For more information, or if you would like to be involved in the organization as a Board member or volunteer,  kindly email us at info@bloomfieldeducationalfoundation.org

Joseph Fleres Chosen as BEF Educator of the Year

/in /by

Bloomfield, NJ —  Terry Mullane, Chairman of The Bloomfield Educational Foundation (BEF) announced Joseph Fleres, Assistant Superintendent of Bloomfield Public Schools has been chosen as the 2025 BEF Educator of the Year.  Fleres will be honored at the BEF Annual Gala, scheduled for April 30, 2025, from 6-10pm at Nanina’s in the Park, located in Belleville, NJ.  Reservations to attend this event can be made at www.bloomfieldeducationalfoundation.org

“We are pleased to recognize the exceptional service that Joseph Fleres has shown with our prestigious Educator of the Year award.  His steadfast leadership before, during, and after the pandemic has provided all students and teachers with the support they need to succeed,” commented Mullane. “He’s a creative problem-solver and provides parents with an administrator who understands the dynamics of the classroom, having experienced these firsthand as a teacher, Vice Principal, Principal, Elementary Education Director, and now Assistant Superintendent,”

About Joseph Fleres

Fleres is currently Assistant Superintendent for the Bloomfield School District.  His career with the district began in 2003 as a 6th-grade teacher at Demarest School.  He then transitioned into school leadership, serving for just over a year as the Vice Principal of Prospect Park School.  Returning to Bloomfield, he served for five years as the Principal of Brookdale Elementary School.  Following his time at Brookdale, Fleres became the Director of Elementary Education.  For the past six years, he has served as Assistant Superintendent, bringing a dynamic and solutions-oriented approach to this leadership role. His deep love and dedication to the Bloomfield School District fuels his commitment to its students, families, and staff.

A graduate of The College of New Jersey, Fleres holds an undergraduate degree from there and a master’s degree from Caldwell University.  He is a sought-after presenter at local, county, state, and national conferences, as well as at local universities.  His presentations cover a range of topics, including educational leadership, the development of truly inclusive special education environments, and the effective integration of technology in the classroom.  His expertise in these areas makes him a valuable resource for educators seeking to enhance their professional practice and improve student outcomes.

A resident of Clark, beyond his professional accomplishments, Joe’s greatest source of pride and joy is his family.  He is a loving husband to Donna and a dedicated father to his daughter, Molly (11), and his son, Dominic (7). Family is Joe’s anchor, providing him with unwavering support and grounding him amidst the demands of his career.  Both Molly and Dominic are actively involved in sports, and Joe enthusiastically supports them every step of the way, serving as their coach, their biggest supporter, and, he jokingly adds, their toughest critic.  He cherishes the time spent with his family, recognizing its importance in maintaining balance and perspective.  Joe’s dedication to both his professional and personal life exemplifies his commitment to growth, leadership, and the well-being of others. He is a true asset to the Bloomfield community.

About The BEF:

The BEF was founded in 1999, by community-minded leaders, Joseph Kliminski ‘61, Robert Fetterly ‘71 and Howard Friedman ‘59, with support from then Superintendent, Thomas Dowd.  Since that time, the BEF raised over $2.7 million and supported the District with over $2.1 million in teacher and District-wide grants and scholarships.  Many of the scholarship funds will award scholarships well into the future, as the result of many very generous supporters.  The BEF worked very well with the Bloomfield School District and funded innovative teaching programs and District-wide initiatives such as Science Fairs and after-school and Saturday programs at the Elementary level, media center upgrades, after-school programs and an outdoor classroom at the middle school, and the offering of free SAT prep classes, and AP Tests paid for by the BEF at the high school level.  These are just a few examples of the kinds of support the BEF has provided over the past two-and-a-half decades.

The BEF mission states the main goal of the organization is to enhance educational opportunities for all students in the Bloomfield School District.  This is accomplished by teachers and administrators submitting grant requests for funding of various projects that are not covered by the district budget.  Additionally, high school seniors are encouraged to fill out scholarship applications for funding awards to help defray the cost of a college, vo-tech or other learning experiences after high school.  In 2025, the BEF is offering 29 scholarships, many of which are funded by generous alumni, ranging from $500 to $5000 a piece and totaling $65,000, to be awarded at the June 2025 ceremony.

Another program that has received funds from the BEF is the Vocational Educational Special Training (V.E.S.T.) program at Bloomfield High School. The V.E.S.T. program services special needs students from ages 15 to 21 with the goal of providing the means to make the students independent and employable.  These students have benefitted from funds that have purchased laptops, smartboards, and funded educational trips to name a few projects.  The Sunset Classic Race Committee, headed by BEF Board member, Paul Giuliano, annually raises funds to support this vital program.  This year’s race will be held on Thursday June 26, 2025, at Foley Field, beginning at 6:30 with a Kids’ Sprints competition.  The 5 mile race kicks off at 7:30PM.

Additional fund raisers scheduled for the 2025 year include a Football Tailgate event at Town Pub on Oct.24, and an Alumni Basketball Tip Off event at Bella Napoli in the fall, date to be announced.  For more information about the 2025 events, kindly visit the website www.bloomfieldeducationalfoundation.org

The Bloomfield Educational Foundation is a registered 501c-3 organization.  For more information, or if you would like to be involved in the organization as a Board member or volunteer,  kindly email us at info@bloomfieldeducationalfoundation.org