The Eagle Eye Alumni Newsletter
Vol. 7 - SPRING/SUMMER 2021
Welcome to the 7th edition of the Eagle Eye!
Egg Harbor Township Schools launched the Alumni Association for a few reasons:
- To find out what roads you chose to follow;
- To see where you are now in your careers and your lives, and what interesting steps you took along the way to get where you are today;
- To gauge your feelings on how Egg Harbor Township Schools prepared you for your journey.
We also want to know what you think we can do better NOW to prepare current students for their future!
Meet Alum Eric Taylor - Class of 1990!
High School Yearbook
2017 Election Campaign Headshot
Eric doing what he loves most -- performing a marriage ceremony!
Order in the Court!
All rise for Honorable Magisterial District Judge Eric Taylor, EHTHS Class of 1990!
When people volunteer in foreign countries, immerse themselves in an environment that is drastically different from their own, and expose themselves to other cultures that open their eyes to what’s really important in life -- they deserve to be recognized for their social responsibility and for fulfilling their civic duty. When those people become Judges, those volunteer experiences become even more poignant.
Being sentenced by a judge who has life experiences that encourage compassion for others is critical to the criminal justice system, and crucial for fairmindedness and objectivity. As a Magisterial Judge in Pennsylvania, Eric Taylor exudes those qualities.
Magisterial District Court is the front line of the judicial system and where most people experience the judicial system for the first time. Magisterial District Judges handle all traffic cases, other minor criminal cases, and civil cases. District Judges also set bail and conduct preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony criminal cases to determine if the cases should be dismissed or transferred to the Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings. Magisterial District Judges, as officers of the Unified Judicial System, may administer oaths and affirmations and take acknowledgments. They also have the authority to perform marriages, but it’s up to the individual judge's decision whether he or she wishes to perform marriage ceremonies. Performing marriages is Eric's favorite part of his job!
Let the record show that Eric received his undergraduate degree in English and Political Science from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC in 1994, and graduated with honors from Rutgers University School of Law – Camden, receiving his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree in 2004.
As Magisterial District Judge 23-2-02, Eric presides over the Boroughs of West Reading and Wyomissing in Berks County, PA. Employed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania since 2018, Eric was an assistant public defender for Berks County for 12 years before becoming a district judge. Prior to his public defender duties, he interned for a judge in Camden for one year, and a federal magistrate judge during the summer of 2002. He was the assistant editor of the Berks County Law Journal for the Berks Bar Association in 2012, and the editor from 2012 to 2014.
Eric served in the Peace Corps in China from 1998 to 1999 teaching English, and also taught English for Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees (COERR) in Thailand where he worked in refugee camps. In addition to living in China and Thailand, Eric lived in London for a semester during law school. During the summer of 1989, he spent about five weeks in Ireland through Irish Way, a travel abroad program for high school students. After graduating from high school, Eric traveled to Canada, Turks & Caicos and the Bahamas with his EHTHS friends, and to Venice, Florence and Rome, Italy, for his honeymoon with wife Terrie. “I developed a love -- probably inherited from my mom -- for traveling both in and outside the U.S.,” he said.
Q & A with Judge Taylor:
What would your EHTHS classmates be most surprised to learn about you?
That I’m a judge.
What led you to choose your career?
Graduating from law school and then while working as a lawyer and seeing judges, both good and bad ones, and believing that I could and would like to do that job as well.
Which cases have been the most difficult?
I guess some of my most difficult cases were those as an attorney where I believed my clients were innocent but yet they were still found guilty. I may have been wrong, but there were some cases that I had where I truly believed the clients were not guilty of what they had been convicted of. This was frustrating because some of them were doing long jail sentences and I couldn’t undo them. I think our judicial system is a good one, but it is not perfect - guilty people are found innocent and innocent people are found guilty. It is far worse for the innocent defendant who was found guilty and does those years in jail, but this was difficult and frustrating for me when I was unable to right this wrong.
Which cases have made you the happiest?
As a judge, I enjoy performing wedding ceremonies - everyone is usually happy and I’m not ruling against one side or the other. As an attorney probably the opposite of my most difficult cases - winning cases where I believed my client was innocent (so justice was done). One case involved a juvenile who had been charged with terroristic threats for writing something threatening in a bathroom. He was the one who reported it, so they focused on him and eventually charged him. He was adamant that he didn’t do it and I believed that he didn’t. The prosecution had a handwriting expert but during cross-examination I was able to show that his testimony that my client’s handwriting matched whoever wrote the threat was incorrect, thus undermining his conclusion. When the judge acquitted my client (it was a bench, not a jury, trial) my client and his mother were thrilled and I believe both hugged me. I am well aware that not all of my clients were innocent but I believed this one was and I was happy that he was (in my mind rightfully) acquitted.
What clubs or activities did you participate in while you were a student at Egg Harbor Township High School?
I was on the football team for 3 years, wrestled for 2 (I won 3rd place in the 1989 EHT Christmas Wrestling Tournament), and track for 1. I was also in the College Club for two years and Key Club for one year. My freshman year was spent at St. Augustine Prep (which is where I played soccer and was a basketball manager).
Which Egg Harbor Township School District teachers, coaches, advisors, counselors, administrators and/or other staff members made a significant impact on your life? How?
Wrestling Coach (and gym teacher) Mike Caiazza was a great coach who really drove me to work hard. I only wrestled for two years but loved it, in part because of him, and am looking forward to my young son wrestling too (hopefully). I had some good English teachers including Mrs. Susan Paul, Mrs. Culton, and Mr. Hal Cohen, who helped develop my love of literature and liberal arts, as well as Mr. Maccarella (history) and Mrs. McCarthy, who taught Intro. to Economics & Intro. to Law classes. My guidance counselor, Bruce Aydelotte, was phenomenal and 100% supportive of me through high school and beyond. I wouldn't have gotten into Wake Forest without Mr. Aydelotte's help. He came to my 2004 law school graduation - how many high school guidance counselors would do that?
What are your favorite EHT memories?
Hanging with good friends Steve Foster (’91), Neil Hudson (’90), and Larry Mufferi (’90) both in and out of school, and wrestling and learning how to wrestle with Anthony D’Agostino (’90).
Do you feel that EHTHS coursework prepared you for your future? If so, how?
A little. Going to Wake Forest for undergrad was a big change – I could no longer quickly do my homework in homeroom. I wish the EHTHS honors and college prep classes that I took had been more challenging.
If you could go back to high school, what would you do differently that would positively impact your future?
I would pay a lot more attention in my Spanish classes. I was short-sighted back then – I took a language class, Spanish, because I thought it would look good for colleges. But I didn’t really try to learn it other than doing well enough to get good grades. But as a lawyer and now a judge, I encounter a number of people who speak Spanish and little or no English, and I have to either get by on my poor Spanish or use an interpreter. I can read enough Spanish that I can do Spanish marriage ceremonies, but I wish I was better at conversational Spanish.
In what ways could EHTHS better prepare current high school students for the future?
For kids who are certain they are going to college, give them more homework so they get a taste of what that is going to be like. Again, it was a rude awakening for me how much work I had to do in college from high school. Also a required life skills class – doing taxes, voting, basic cooking, changing a tire – to prepare everyone in the real-world basics.
Eric lives in West Reading, PA, with his wife Terrie and two children including his daughter Saoirse, 7, and son Deaglan, 6. “They have Irish names. Saoirse means ‘freedom’ or ‘liberty’ and Deaglan is the ancient form of Declan and means ‘full of goodness.’ Saoirse is learning horseback riding, which neither Terrie nor I know anything about, and I’m coaching Deaglan in basketball and tee ball,” he said.
Eric’s organizational affiliations include membership with the Berks County Bar Association, where he co-chairs the Minor Judiciary Practice & Procedure Section and has co-taught a handful of CLEs (Continuing Legal Education). A member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Sacred Heart in West Reading, Eric also served on the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berks County Board of Directors.
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HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT EHT SCHOOLS?
Follow the Community Partnership for Egg Harbor Township Schools, Inc. at https://www.facebook.com/communitypartnershipEHT/ and the Egg Harbor Township Education Foundation at https://www.facebook.com/EHTEducationFoundation/ to learn about upcoming events they are planning that benefit student scholarships, teacher mini-grants, capital projects, extra-curricular activities, instructional technology, and academic enhancement.
To donate to the Community Partnership for EHT Schools, Inc. visit:
https://www.communitypartnershipeht.org/
To make a donation to the EHT Education Foundation visit: https://www.eggharbortownshipeducationfoundation.org/
EHT SCHOOLS IS HIRING FOR REWARDING OPPORTUNITIES!
To apply, click HERE
THIS EDITION'S "ON THE JOB" NEWS
ARE YOU BEING BULLIED IN YOUR WORKPLACE?
If a boss or co-worker is a bully and creating a toxic environment, that must be illegal, right? Wrong. There currently aren’t any laws against workplace bullying in the United States.
As an adult with a career, you may find yourself in this precarious situation that you thought you left behind in middle school. What do you do? Do you take the high road and ignore the situation and hope things settle down? Do you confront the bully head-on? If the bully is your boss, what are your options? Do you go over that person's head? Report it to HR? What are the repercussions after you speak up?
You are not alone. According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, more than 60 million working people in the United States are affected by bullying. Research shows repeated bullying can trigger physical and mental health problems such as high blood pressure, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and depression. “At its core, bullying is about power,” says Tara Fishler, a conflict-resolution specialist. “When someone feels threatened or powerless, they try to exert power over other people through bullying.” People who bully may eventually face consequences, but unfortunately, many types of bullying aren’t illegal.
The Healthy Workplace Bill, first introduced in 2001, aims to help prevent and reduce workplace bullying and its negative effects by offering protections to people who experience bullying. It can also help employers create antibullying policies and procedures. In New Jersey, the Healthy Workplace Act makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to permit an employee to be subjected to an abusive work environment, for an employer or any agent or employee of the employer to subject an employee to an abusive work environment, or for an employer to retaliate against an employee because the employee brings or participates in an action, investigation or proceeding related to the abusive work environment.
The bill defines an "abusive work environment" as a workplace in which an employee is subjected to abusive conduct severe enough to cause physical or psychological harm. "Abusive conduct" is defined as workplace conduct of an employer or employee that a reasonable person would find hostile, including threatening, intimidating, or humiliating verbal or physical conduct, gratuitous sabotage or undermining of an employee's work performance, attempts to exploit an employee's known psychological or physical vulnerability, or repeated infliction of verbal abuse, such as the use of derogatory remarks, insults, and epithets.
As of 2019, 30 states have adopted some form of this bill.
Some types of workplace bullying:
- Verbal. This could include mockery, humiliation, jokes, gossip, or other spoken abuse.
- Intimidating. This might include threats, social exclusion in the workplace, spying, or other invasions of privacy.
- Related to work performance. Examples include wrongful blame, work sabotage or interference, or stealing or taking credit for ideas.
- Retaliatory. In some cases, talking about the bullying can lead to accusations of lying, further exclusion, refused promotions, or other retaliation.
- Institutional. Institutional bullying happens when a workplace accepts, allows, and even encourages bullying to take place. This bullying might include unrealistic production goals, forced overtime, or singling out those who can’t keep up.
- About 70 percent of bullies are male, and about 30 percent are female.
- Both male and female bullies are more likely to target women.
- Sixty-one percent of bullying comes from bosses or supervisors. Thirty-three percent comes from co-workers. The remaining 6 percent occurs when people at lower employment levels bully their supervisors or others above them.
Workplaces with high rates of bullying can also experience negative consequences, such as:
- financial loss resulting from legal costs or bullying investigations
- decreased productivity and morale
- increased employee absences
- high turnover rates
- poor team dynamics
- reduced trust, effort, and loyalty from employees
According to Healthline, an online health media outlet, you can begin to take action against bullying with these steps:
- Document the bullying. Keep track of all bullying actions in writing. Note the date, the time, where the bullying took place, and other people who were in the room.
- Save physical evidence. Keep any threatening notes, comments, or emails you receive, even if they’re unsigned. If there are other documents that can help prove bullying, such as denied requests, overly harsh commentary on assigned work, etc., keep these in a safe place.
- Report the bullying. Talking to a trusted Human Resources professional is a good place to start. It’s also possible to talk about the bullying with someone higher up if your supervisor is unhelpful, or if he/she is the person doing the bullying.
- Confront the bully. If you're comfortable doing so and if you know who’s bullying you, bring along a trusted witness, such as a co-worker or supervisor, and ask them to stop. Be calm, direct, polite, and professional.
- Review work policies. Your employee handbook may outline steps of action or policies against bullying. Also consider reviewing state or even federal policies about the type of bullying you’re experiencing.
- Seek legal guidance. Consider talking to a lawyer, depending on the circumstances of the bullying. Legal action may not always be possible, but a lawyer can offer specific advice.
- Reach out to others. Co-workers may be able to offer support as well as talking to your loved ones. You can also talk to a therapist. They can provide professional support and help you explore ways to cope with the effects of bullying while you take other action.
Bullying is a serious issue in many workplaces. While many companies have a zero-tolerance policy, bullying can sometimes be hard to recognize or prove, making it difficult for managers to take action. Other companies may not have any policies about bullying. Taking steps to prevent workplace bullying can benefit organizations and the health of their employees.
To learn more about the Healthy Workplace Bill, click HERE.
SEND US YOUR CLASS REUNION NEWS via email to: gregorye@eht.k12.nj.us
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FEATURED IN AN UPCOMING EDITION OF THE EAGLE EYE?
SHARE YOUR STORY!
Maybe you chose a traditional academic path, or perhaps you took the road less traveled and blazed your own trail. Regardless of how you got to where you are today, we are grateful to you for putting Egg Harbor Township School District on the map, making a difference in the world, and for helping us become better educators. In each edition, we hope to share your stories, inspire opportunities for you to reconnect with us, and invite you to participate in exciting things happening in the Egg Harbor Township School District.
PLEASE SEND EMAIL INQUIRIES TO: alumni@eht.k12.nj.us
EHTHS Alumni Office
13 Swift Drive
Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
(609) 646-8441, ext. 1017
Email: alumni@eht.k12.nj.us