Peter Grandinetti, long-time supervisor of Red Bank Regional High School’s Four-Year Academies, retired in June with many accolades including a proclamation from the New Jersey State Legislature.
Press release from Red Bank Regional High School
It is often remarked that people will change their profession or “reinvent themselves” several times during their working life. Peter Grandinetti did so in a way that saw him travel full circle — from his start as an educator, to success in the world of business, and finally to a celebrated career as a leader in the greater Red Bank area’s education community.
On June 30, Grandinetti retired after 14 years from his position as supervisor of the Four-Year Academy programs at Red Bank Regional High School. Along the way he garnered many accolades, including a career-capping resolution from the New Jersey Legislature.
Grandinetti was cited by the legislature for having “demonstrated an uncommon level of knowledge, commitment, and creativity” in being “instrumental in the development and implementation of the Four-Year Academies at Red Bank Regional High School.”
A resident of West Long Branch, Peter Grandinetti began his career in education as an industrial arts teacher following his service in the U. S. Navy. He also coached several sports until he decided to transition to the business world. He enjoyed a long and very successful career in the insurance industry, and left to develop several business ventures. He was doing very well when some old friends, and administrators for RBR asked him if he would want to return to teaching.
He missed the classroom and seized the opportunity to make a positive impact on young lives as RBR pursued an academy model of education. He soon ascended to the Supervisor of RBR’s Academies of Information Technology, Finance and Pre-engineering. He brought his business acumen to his job, as well as his professional attire standards believing that he set an example for his students. He introduced professional alliances to the program including Project Lead the Way, and he strongly encouraged regional and national competitions in the IT and engineering area.
Five years ago, when a long-time supervisor of the acclaimed Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) retired, Grandinetti agreed to take on that additional supervisory role. A great patron of the arts, he had a good relationship with the VPA teachers from the time he helped build the RBR stage production sets, when he first joined the staff. He counts as one of his best friends RBR’s original VPA drama teacher, Joe Russo, who also retired this year. He additionally supervised the culinary and early childhood education programs, which have both grown significantly under his tutelage.
Grandinetti states of his career at RBR, “I am most proud of my staff because they made RBR a leader in the Visual and Performing Arts and STEM education. They have made the classes better and more competitive. I just gave them the tools.”
He adds, “It has been a great run…I love the place (RBR) and especially seeing how academically sound we are. I am so happy I had something to do with it.”
