Catherine Kuwera is an encyclopedia of Communications High School (CHS) knowledge. Now it’s time to close the CHS chapter of her story. On Dec. 20, 2025 Kuwera retired after serving the Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD) for 25 years.
After completing her first year at the Culinary Education Center (CEC), Kuwera met James Gleason, who was set to be the first principal of the MCVSD’s newest school: CHS. She left her position at the CEC and followed Gleason into the school she would spend the rest of her career working in.
As secretary, Kuwera put just as much into forging the foundations of CHS as former principal Gleason did–she was the communication that made Communications run.
“If you needed anything she just did it,” said CHS history teacher Sharyn O’Keefe. “She tried to make everybody’s life easier no matter if you were a teacher, club advisor or substitute. If you needed something done, she would just do it.”
Widely regarded as one of the most loyal employees CHS has seen, Kuwera pursued her role as secretary with a passion for bettering the = school. Former Physical Education teacher Virginia Clevenger claims the CHS community quickly became her second family.
“She never talked much about her family, but her son is in the dental field and her daughter is a nurse. Her husband has a huge collection of remote control airplanes that he flies,” Clevenger said. “She loved CHS.”
Junior Brody Salowe of Ocean Township recalls Kuwera caring enough about the student body to learn about each and every student.
“Every time I saw Mrs. Kuwera, she always said good morning and asked me how my day was,” said Salowe. “She even remembered to ask me how my leg was doing after my surgery.”
CHS Biology teacher Leah Morgan recalls her first days working at CHS and being there to witness Kuwera’s last.
“She’s been here the whole time I’ve been here, so it was wonderful having a familiar face in the same place for 20 years,” said Morgan.
Senior Phin Whedon of Wall Township, and the rest of the CHS community, feel like a big part of CHS left with Kuwera, and wish her the best during her retirement.
“It’s going to be very weird not seeing her in the office every time I ask to borrow a stapler or box of tissues—it feels like a part of CHS is missing right now.”
