High School's Science Supervisor Retiring on Eve of New Program

Just as all fields of science have burgeoned over the past three decades, so has teaching science grown and been intensified—and few know that better than Watchung Hills Regional High School's Jeff Charney.

As supervisor of the science department, he has shepherded many changes. Courses once offered at the college level have been introduced into high school curricula, and have become required instead of elective.

For the first time, an honors course in biology will be offered this fall at Watchung Hills, a step forward Dr. Charney helped to plan and promote—even though he'll not be around to watch it grow because he is retiring at the end of the school year.

But Dr. Charney can look back on a significant list of accomplshments: he promoted team teaching as an effective practice, and he's been instrumental in introducing
new courses such as astrophysics.

More significantly he's forged connections with such eminent organizations as the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab, enabling students to become acquainted with state-of-the-art projects and the physicists developing them.

The teaching field itself has changed since Dr. Charney started his career. Today's teacher needs to be more qualified and most often will require a degree beyond the bachelor's – and must often fulfill other roles as well: that of counselor, surrogate parent, advisor. Yet, he says teaching can be a very rewarding, enjoyable career – watching a student grow, doing great science and research projects, challenging accepted practices.

Although Dr. Charney will leave Watchung Hills, he'll continue to teach at Drew University and contribute ideas and guidance to the Rutgers-based Waksman Institute (“Genes, Genomes and Human Genetics”), whose prestigious summer program is well known to Hills' students. He will also write online articles for Google and continue his activities with the National Science Foundation.

And while he'll be ending his famous bicycle commutes from Hunterdon County, where he said he observes wildlife along the way ( biology while biking), his affection for his bicycle will likely continue. 

Dr. Charney came to WHRHS in 1980. A native of Detroit, he was a graduate of the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources/Forestry. He taught for five years in
Englewood before coming to Watchung Hills, where he taught such courses as Earth Science, Geology and
Biology. Within five years, Dr. Charney became supervisor of the department, replacing Jim Kline, who retired from that position.

Dr. Charney will be honored along with eight other retiring members of the Watchung Hills Regional High School faculty on Friday (June 15) at the Martinsville Inn. Joining him for the event are Rex Stevens (Science Dept.); Cecelia Everett (Student Assistance counselor); Mary Lewis (Art); Pat Kelly (Social Studies); Sandy Mann (Special Education); Bill Holmes (Choral Music); Brian Reardon (Driver Education) and Gale Benn (French).