Left to right: Red Bank Regional Supervisor Pete Grandinetti and RBR drama teacher Joe Russo were honored by the Eastern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce with their Spinnaker Award in the category of arts and culture.
Press release from Red Bank Regional High School
Two staff members at Red Bank Regional High School were recently honored by the Eastern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce with their Spinnaker Award, in the category of arts and culture. RBR Supervisor Pete Grandinetti and Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Academy drama teacher Joe Russo were presented with the honor at the Chamber’s 86th annual dinner, “in recognition of their support and cultivation of the arts in the community.”
Russo has been an award-winning drama teacher with RBR since the inception of the VPA academy. This accolade comes at the denouement of his career, as Mr. Russo retires after 32 years guiding RBR’s talented drama students.
Initially a fellow faculty member who was also involved with the theater and stagecraft, Grandinetti became the supervisor of the school’s VPA program four years ago. He also retires from RBR this year, after 15 years of employment with the district.
“The biggest thrill I get is seeing my students getting great jobs and doing marvelous things,” said Russo. “The ability to give every kid the opportunity to experience and develop an appreciation of arts is always what it has been about for me.”
“I am most gratified on how we have developed the breadth and diversity of our program…our students constantly gain local, regional and even national recognition whether it be in studio art, photography, creative writing, dance and music competitions,” stated Grandinetti. “And of course, there is the amazing quality of our drama students who win Basie awards on a regular basis, thanks to Joe’s tremendous tutelage.”
