Local Black History: Superintendent Seeks Ways to Aid Woodbine Pupils

WOODBINE – “Superintendent means I am a better servant, not a high and mighty role,” said Lynda Anderson-Towns, superintendent and principal of Woodbine Elementary School.
Anderson-Towns was vice-principal at Middle Township Elementary School No. 2 and principal at Maud Abrams Elementary School in Lower Township, but left the more-lucrative districts for Woodbine, which she said tests her skills and creativity every day.
Even with the most powerful position in the school, Anderson-Towns hasn’t lost touch with the children, and she is often seen walking the halls greeting them and helping first-hand to provide education.
Anderson-Towns is involved with all functions of the school from disciplinary issues to book supply ordering and curriculum, even serving as a substitute teacher when needed.
“There’s not a whole lot I don’t know about,” she said. “It’s pretty comprehensive and extremely exciting. In my mind it’s a dream job. I find it uses every skill I’ve ever had. I work with some of the most needy children in Cape May County. It’s very fulfilling because it is a financially-challenged district, so I have to be creative to find resources that other schools in Cape May County take for granted.”
The Anderson-Towns family has history in Cape May County with many serving local education roles. Her brother, Cliff, Jr. is an assistant CEO at Woodbine Developmental Center. Weiss-Anderson Park in Cape May City is named for her large family, Anderson-Towns said.
“I’m very proud of my family,” she said. Her twin sons, Jason and Joe, are both successful college graduates, one working as an attorney in Washington, D.C and another teaches locally. Their daughter, Whitney, is studying at Wesley College in Delaware.
“We have a very education-oriented family,” she said. Anderson-Towns assisted with Kwanza programs at West Cape May Elementary for 11 years.
Her father, Clifton J. “Doc” Anderson Sr., was a college professor at Prince Anne College in Maryland, where her family lived during winter months when she was young.
Lower Cape May Regional built a track in memory of her father who was a 1947 graduate and All-American track star whose career continued with the New York Giants and Chicago Bears.
Anderson-Towns is one of seven children raised by her single-mother in Cape May after her parents divorced. Her mother, Ruthe Anderson, was a permanent substitute teacher at Lower Cape May Regional who taught her “never to give up.”
“She really instilled in me core principles, perseverance and accepting people for who they are,” she said.
When Anderson passed away last year, Anderson-Towns said many children wrote to her telling her their memories of her mother and how she had influenced their lives.
In addition to raising her own children, Anderson also cared for foster children, Anderson-Towns said.
“She was just such an amazing person and I guess that’s were I got my background of giving back to the community,” she said. “She’s absolutely an inspiration because she gave incessantly to anyone who touched her life. I think watching her raise all seven of us certainly built character for me,” Towns continued.
Towns said she is most proud of starting with minimal programs compared to other districts and being able to provide opportunities through grants.
She created a foster grandparent program, in which seniors work with the kids at school to help with specific needs. When the school needed more help in the cafeteria but couldn’t afford to hire lunch aids, Towns said she thought, “There must be a way,” so she applied and successfully became an agency for welfare to work programs.
Towns also instated a senior Work Experience program in which seniors from the community work in the library and other areas of the school.
“I think very out-of-the-box and I’m hard to contain creatively because I always see possibilities and I’m willing to do the work.”
Towns said she often works weekends to catch up with her superintendent duties since she spends a lot of school time as a disciplinarian and/or guidance counselor.
Towns also does the school’s grant writing and last year received one in five grants in the entire state for preschool program for 3-year-olds. Towns said it was a matter of timing because then funds were ripe for the taking whereas there is no grant this year. The school received $240,000 for a classroom and outside playground area. The school also received a grant from ACESET Foundation for classroom libraries.
“It starts children learning early and helps parents to work,” she said. “I’m extremely passionate about education and it’s a dream job because I know I work with children who don’t have the same background but to watch them grow and become as strong as districts with more resources…I’m very proud of that.”
She said her favorite part of her involvement in education is observing children learn and “seeing the light bulb go on.”
A sign outside of Towns office reads, “Adults’ needs don’t come before children’s needs.”
“I believe every child can and will achieve when they are given the tools. Students need to respect their teachers but the teachers must return that respect to the children,” she said.
Woodbine Elementary School is a Bacon District involved in a lawsuit with about 12 other schools that want to become Abbott Districts, like Millville, to receive funding, Towns said.
“I want to give this school what all the other schools in Cape May County have and take for granted. We have many poor students,” she said.
Towns said many agencies like Cape Assist, Coalition Against Rape and Abuse (CARA), Puerto-Rican Action Committee (PRAC) and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) have all stepped up with help and support because “they know if they give us money we will use it fully and not cut corners.”
To celebrate Black History Month, students are writing letters to First Lady Michelle Obama, creating their own “I have a dream,” speeches and gathering with Middle Township and Millville students for an educational assembly.
When asked what would be her message for up-and-coming young people Towns told the Herald, “Have core principles you remain committed to like integrity, honesty. It plays a great role in what drives you, especially in leadership.”
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck@cmcherald.com.