Becton Regional High School is welcoming back a former student to the Special Education Department, Greg Barbo. Although he is becoming a new teacher to Becton this year, this will be Barbo’s 10th year on the coaching staff for the Becton Wildcats Football Team. Barbo states, “Overall, I am just excited to be back here helping as many students as possible.”
Barbo attended Becton Regional, and during his time here, played football as well. When asked about his time at Becton, he reminised with nostaliga, “Becton has always been home for me. It is an amazing place because you get so many kids from many different backgrounds and everyone comes together like one family.” Speaking of family, Barbo met his high school sweetheart and wife, Melida, while attending Becton and not too long ago they had their first child, Jamie.
Despite his physical absence within the school walls over the past decade, Barbo has put all efforts into making Becton’s Football Team a force to be reckoned with. Barbo is the Head Defensive Coach on the team. He works alongside fellow coach, Karl Ross. Barbo went into more detail, “Coach Karl Ross has been a mentor since he coached me in 8th grade. He has taken me under his wing and has taught me his defense that they won the 2003 state championship with, here at Becton.” Barbo also mentioned another person he looks up to, Vice Principal James Bononno. “Mr. Bononno was actually my coach when I first entered Becton. He was tough on us, which made all of us tougher in life.” Barbo loves coaching and says that it is not always about winning, it is when the kids come back to see you, living their life, showing you what they have accomplished that matters most.
Barbo graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey where he pursued a Masters Degree in Special Education with a specific focus in Cognitive Mild Impaired. His career goals were to make sure he made time for both teaching and coaching football. Before teaching at Becton, Barbo was a teacher in Paterson. Nonetheless, after spending just a day back in his old home, Barbo knew that this was the place for him. Barbo’s approach to teaching is based on the kids in his class thus emphazising a step-by-step process and student-centered classroom. He makes it a priority to get to know them first and establish a bond with them.
When asked about working alongside his past teachers, Barbo said with a grin, “They are great teachers, but they are even better people.”
Former teammate, fellow coach, and now colleague, Dr. Daniel Farina, reflects on Barbo as a coach, “Mr. Barbo is an incredible young coach with a bright future. His knowledge and ability to communicate what he needs are leadership skills that have helped the Wildcats reach levels of success not seen in 20 years.” Alongside this, former English teacher, Mrs. De Santis commented on Mr. Barbo’s return as a teacher, “I remember having Mr. Barbo in class and how polite and caring he was. He always got along with his classmates and was a great contributor to class discussions. Mr. Barbo is the type of teacher who students will gravitate towards.”
Barbo is excited for this year and the years to come for him both as a teacher and coach at Becton; however, the coach shares his final comment, “Bringing home another state championship is my ultimate goal.”
