Red Bank Regional principal Risa Clay was honored by the Pilgrim Baptist Church’s Commemorative Celebration Committee with its Community Leadership Award, on Martin Luther King Day.

Press release from Red Bank Regional High School

Risa Clay, principal of Red Bank Regional High School, was honored on January 19 by the Pilgrim Baptist Church Commemorative Celebration Committee with its Community Leadership Award, during its annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Commemorative Celebration.

The event, which also honored Linda Ambis of The Community YMCA, featured the participation of religious leaders from Monmouth Reform Temple and several other area church congregations, in addition to Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna and Police Chief Darren McConnell. Reverend Bernadette Glover from St Paul Baptist Church in Montclair was the event’s special guest speaker, and the Red Bank Regional High School Choir performed throughout the three-hour event along with other area youth groups.

The Red Bank Regional Choir performed during the Community Commemorative Celebration held on Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday at Pilgrim Baptist Church.

Risa Clay began her career at RBR as a student assistance counselor and later established The SOURCE, RBR’s School Based Youth Services Program. She also created the award-winning ELL program as its supervisor. In conjunction with her Hispanic students’ improvement and success, she founded a scholarship funded with private donations to enable ELL students to attend college. She later ascended to Vice Principal and then Principal of the high school.

Upon receiving her award, Clay stated, “Throughout the 22 years I have worked at RBR, I have been blessed to know generations of students and their families. They never cease to amaze me with their resilience by refusing to be defined by circumstance, statistics or convention… I am blessed to work in a school rich in diversity; this choice has enriched my life immeasurably.”