Administration
Dr. Deneen Washington
Principal
Dr. Deneen Washington was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. She attended Newark Public Schools and graduated from Malcolm X Shabazz High in Newark, New Jersey.
She attended Bloomfield College where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1991. Dr. Washington later became employed as a Family Service Worker for Essex County Division of Welfare in 1993. In August of 1998 she left the Division of Welfare to become teacher within the Newark Public Schools.
In September of 1998, Dr. Washington began working as a second grade teacher at Louise A. Spencer Elementary School. After teaching for two years she entered the graduate program at Saint Peter’s University for Education Leadership. In May 2001, she received her Masters of Arts Degree with an Administration and Supervision Specialization from Saint Peters College. She also received a certificate in the area of Education Supervision, Principal, School Business Administrator and School District Superintendent.
After three years of teaching, Dr. Washington was appointed to a Vice-Principal at Louise A. Spencer Elementary School where she supervised the Middle School Program. In 2002, she was a participant in the New Leaders for Schools Leadership Program. In July 2003, she was appointed as the principal of Maple Avenue School. During the time that she served as the principal of Maple Avenue School she worked hard to improve the academic achievement of all students, increase parent involvement, collaborate with community partners, and empower her staff members to improve their professional growth.
In September of 2009, Deneen entered the Doctoral Program for Educational Leadership at Kean University. She received her doctorate in Educational Leadership in May 2015. Her dissertation topic was The Impact of a School Based Mentoring Program on Middle Level Student’s Academic Achievement and Behavior.
Dr. Washington is a member of the following organizations: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., The Soaring Spirits International Organization, North Jersey Chapter of Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the Kean Alumni Association. She currently serves as the secretary and principal representative on the executive board of The City Association for Supervisors and Administrators and is a certified mentor for New Jersey’s Leader to Leader Program.
In 2017, Dr. Washington founded Edcamp Newark Leadership. She has led two unconferences within the district to empower teacher leaders and administrators.
Dr. Washington has been the recipient of the following awards that has recognized her as an effective school leader:
- Dodge Grant Recipient 2007-2008, traveled to Japan to study innovative math designs and school culture
- Dodge Grant Recipient 2008-2009, traveled to Kansas City to participate in the National Mentoring Conference
- George King Memorial Scholarship Award endowed by Montclair State University’ Newark Urban Residency Program that provided experiences in talent management, mentoring and coaching for new teachers
- Cahn Fellowship Program at Teacher College, Columbia University’s Distinguished Principal’s Program where she completed an action research project on the Transformation Pedagogy Model.
Dr. Deneen Washington is beginning a new journey with a high level of enthusiasm as the Principal of Belmont Runyon Community School. She looks forward to engaging teachers, parents and community with effective leadership in order to create powerful learning experiences for students within the South Ward.
Sherell Benders-Smith
Vice Principal
Sherell Benders-Smith is the oldest of four children raised by two incredible parents, Oliver and Pamela Benders. As the oldest child she was the first to attend and graduate college amongst her siblings. This powerhouse individual possesses four degrees from higher education and seven New Jersey approved school certifications.
While attending these great institutions of higher education she obtained a BA in Literature at Ramapo College of New Jersey, an MA in Administration & Supervision as well as a MA in Counseling from Montclair State University and recently received her EDS from Seton Hall University. With intentions to further her education and pursue her Ed.D to clearly show a distinction of her expertise verse her colleagues.
As a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated, Mrs. Benders-Smith serves as a mentor to her sorority “Rhoers Club”. She has cultivated these young women through numerous educational and academic extended classroom experiences, such as, but not limited to, youth symposiums, etiquette workshops, character education, self-esteem, peer mediation trainings and visitation of other states and countries. She is indeed a gift to all who encounters her.
Mrs. Benders-Smith is an extraordinary woman who is vested in changing hearts and minds of adolescents. She has worked in Newark Public Schools for 20 plus years. She has become such a vital part of the community, that she is a stand-in parent that has assumed young ladies from the school system.
Sherell Benders-Smith is also a guidance counselor and the owner of the Home of Positive Enlightenment, which is a nonprofit organization and home for at risk teens. With over 25 years experience, she is responsible for the overall operations and administration of the home. Sherell oversees counseling for at risk teens and provides them with life skills and coping techniques, and helps them overcome dysfunctional family life.
Sharon Thompson
Vice Principal
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." -- Nelson Mandela.
This quote has become a part of the mantra Ms. Sharon A. Thompson uses to empower students throughout their day. Ms. Thompson, who is thrilled to be the new addition to the Belmont Runyon School administrative team, brings her optimism to lead because she understands she is obligated to the next generation of children's promotion to success. As a visionary leader, Ms. Thompson believes all students should be afforded opportunities to leave our institutions with a strong understanding of who they are and where they would be happiest and most successful beyond graduation.
Ms. Thompson was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, where she is a proud graduate of Arts High School. Ms. Thompson graduated from Kean University with a BA in Elementary Education & Communications and from Grand Canyon University with an MEd in Curriculum & Instruction in Reading. She received her MA in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University.
Ms. Thompson joined NBOE in September of 2000 after working in the Private and Catholic School sector for a few years after graduating college. Ms. Thompson has been a classroom teacher who has taught Pre-K to high school students. During her tenure in NBOE, Ms. Thompson has been a classroom teacher, literacy coach, academic interventionist, BNAT, and School Test Coordinator. Ms. Thompson has been recognized and received the 2009 State of New Jersey Governor's Award and the 2022 School Based Teacher of the Year Award for her work in promoting student growth.
Ms. Thompson's educational leadership philosophy is building interpersonal capacity with our students and staff, for learning is unique to every individual, and each child learns differently, so we must prepare for all. This philosophy drives her belief that education should empower a child to contribute positively to our world.
Denise L. Taylor
Vice Principal
Mrs. Denise L. Taylor is a native of Newark, New Jersey. She has been employed by the Newark Board of Education since September 2000. She has over twenty years of experience as a Vice Principal. Prior to coming to Belmont Runyon, Mrs. Taylor served as Vice Principal at Alexander Street School, Vailsburg Middle School, George Washington Carver Elementary School, Park Elementary School, and Oliver Street School. Prior to becoming a Vice Principal, she was a Literacy Tutor and 3rd Grade Teacher at Madison Elementary School, also in Newark.
Mrs. Taylor is a graduate of University High School in Newark, New Jersey. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia in 1991. After graduation, Mrs. Taylor became employed as a Family Service Worker for Essex County Division of Welfare. In August of 2000 she left the Division of Welfare to become a teacher within the Newark Public Schools.
In September of 2000, Mrs. Taylor began working as a third-grade teacher at Madison Elementary School. After teaching for one year she entered the graduate program at Saint Peter's University for Education Leadership. She received a Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Supervision from Saint Peters College in Jersey City, New Jersey in 2003. After four years of teaching and tutoring, Mrs. Taylor was appointed Vice Principal at Alexander Street School in August of 2004.
Mrs. Taylor has long been involved in community service and scholarship activities for over 40 years. She is the immediate Past National President of The Drifters, Incorporated. She is the Past National Vice President of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. She is a charter member of the Omega Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha and Past President of the Omicron Xi Omega Chapter. She is also a member of the Morris County (NJ) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.
Mrs. Taylor previously served as the former Executive Committee Member of the Newark Unit for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She was also a member of New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA), International Reading Association, National Organization of African American Administrators and the National Alliance of Black School Educators.
Mrs. Taylor received the 2010 Community Service Award from the National Organization of African American Administrators. She received the Wilma Holmes Tootle Educational Advancement Award at the 2004 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority North Atlantic Regional Conference. She also received the 2002 Master Teacher Award from Project G.R.A.D. (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams) Newark for her commitment to educational excellence and the Women You Should Know in 1999 Award from YWCA of Montclair-North Essex.
Mrs. Taylor looks forward to working with all the Belmont Runyon School stakeholders to make a positive impact on students in the South Ward Community.