VILLAS – Assemblyman Erik Simonsen, who retired from his schools career at the end of the last school year, was honored for 30 years in the field of education as a teacher, vice principal, coach and athletic director.

Simonsen, who also served on the Lower Township Council and as mayor, was presented with a key to the township by Mayor Frank Sippel, who was Simonsen’s deputy mayor.

“He really has the best interests of Lower Township at heart,” Sippel said of Simonsen. “He will keep working for Lower at the state level.”

Sippel highlighted Simonsen’s career, which took him from the Special Services School District to becoming the assistant principal at the Richard M. Teitelman School, to becoming the athletic director in the Lower Cape May Regional School District. He was also the varsity wrestling coach for many years.

Simonsen said he enjoyed his career in education, with experiences he said, that “covered the gamut,” working with special needs children, teaching them art and music, developing a school-to-work program, and then going on to be the vice principal at Teitelman. He became the athletic director while his principal, Greg Lasher, is now the LCMR district superintendent.

“I loved doing the AD stuff,” he said.

Simonsen said he had to learn to balance his career in education with the political career he took on. He said working as the athletic director had its advantages for the political side.

“As the AD I would see people all the time,” he said. “I would see all the (Cape Atlantic League) schools and had contact with constituents. They were not shy to let me know what was on their mind.”

Asked about a topic many residents are thinking about these days, regulation of e-bikes, Simonsen said the situation is just going to get worse without regulation. He said he frankly doesn’t see anything happening at the state level until after the Nov. 4 election. He said there would probably be a Democratic version of a bill that the 1st District team would join, making it a bipartisan effort.

Simonsen, an avid cyclist, said he has sponsored a bill to promote bicycle safety. He said bike safety used to be a part of physical education classes in the schools, and the Police Department still holds bike rodeos that stress safety and following the rules of the road. He said these rules apply to both pedal bikes and e-bikes, but they are universally ignored.

“I will be out cycling and I ride at a good clip, and the next thing I know an e-bike is heading right at me,” he said.

Simonsen said that since he retired he has more time to spend at the legislative office and working on bills that will improve the quality of life in the district. He said being retired allows him to get more sleep, but he continues to play music and will likely be attending seminars for athletic directors.

Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or call 609-886-8600, ext. 128.