Edward Subokow was a real estate agent on Long Beach Island for five years prior to becoming a teacher.

“After four years I felt an itch to pursue a career where I felt I was meeting my highest and best use and that was in education,” said Subokow, now the assistant principal of Lacey Middle School.

Subokow graduated from LeSalle University with a bachelor's of arts degree in organizational management and a minor in geology. He also received a bachelor's of arts degree in teacher of English from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and his master's in administrative leadership from Georgian Court University.

He taught at Brick Memorial High School as well as Long Branch High School before teaching Language Arts at Lacey Middle School for six years.

“I love the classroom setting and being able to be a positive role model and reaching to teach all the students in my classes,” he said, adding that he wanted the ability to reach more students.

“The halls are wide open for helping our young people,” he said.

Subokow was Lacey Middle School’s Teacher of the Year in 2012, Superintendent Dr. Sandra Brower said in a community letter that announced his appointment.

“Mr. Subokow will bring his successful classroom experiences to his new role as well as those he gained through his work as a teacher leader,” she said.

Subokow enjoys working with students and their families.

“The relationship is proverbial,” he said. “It takes a village to raise a child. I think that perspective in administration is really useful. The relationship is the strategy. When school is safe, the sky’s the limit.”

When there’s a solid relationship established between school leadership and staff, learning can occur at all grade levels, he said. That relationship can increase comfort levels and increase students’ desire to take educational risks.

“Without a doubt, middle school children are some of the funniest people on the planet,” Subokow said. “It makes learning easy and enhances the learning environment.”

Subokow has experience writing several curriculums and said Lacey Middle School is technologically-based and improving.

“It’s been great,” he said.

Not long after he was appointed as assistant principal, Subokow attended an administrative retreat at the district. It was the first time such an event was held, he said.

“It was a wonderful learning experience,” he said. “We learned that we’re in great hands with Dr. Brower.”

The district is making changes based on research to help students individually achieve their best potential, he said.

Now on the job more than three weeks, Subokow said he and Principal Jason King are interviewing for teacher positions, perfecting the master schedule, planning professional development days and preparing for opening day.

“I envision the position being an educational leadership position, not just disciplinary,” he said. “Mr. King and I set a tone for academics first.”

After teachers, administration has the next highest level of impact on performance, Subokow said.

“We want to use that power wisely to help the children achieve their best potential,” he said.