Gov.-elect Chris Christie visits Robert Treat Academy

Monday, 09 November 2009 15:21 North Ward Center

One day after winning New Jersey's gubernatorial contest, Chris Christie visited Robert Treat Academy, the Blue-Ribbon charter school founded by educator Stephen N. Adubato.

The governor-elect told 450 students who gathered in the auditorium that there was no other place he'd rather be than the school that he often mentioned on the campaign trail.

"As I traveled all around the state, campaigning for governor there was only one school I talked about more than any other school in New Jersey," Christie told the students. "I wanted for every child in the state, to get an education like all of you are getting."

Before a press conference, Adubato led Christie on a tour of the school with Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin, state Sen. Teresa Ruiz, state Assemblyman Alberto Coutinho and Newark Mayor Cory Booker. They visited the recently remodeled computer lab and the science lab, where students demonstrated the use of a smart board.

"I already know this school and I love this school and I love what you are all doing and you are always going to have my friendship and my support," Christie said. "Any dream you can dream, because of this place and your hard work, you're going to be able to achieve."

Gov.-elect Chris Christie addresses students at Robert Treat Academy during his first public appearance after winning New Jersey's gubernatorial race.

Dozens of reporters from the state and national newspapers and television and radio news stations from New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia as well as Fox News were on hand for the governor's press conference. Severalstudents were interviewed by reporters.

"I'm excited, because it's the first place he's coming to and he's not even governor yet," student Eugene Ramos, 13, told the New York Post.

During the press conference, Christie told reporters that the state needs more schools like Robert Treat Academy.

"This school is teaching children 11 months a year, 5 ½ days a week for a cost that's two-thirds of what the cost is in the regular public school in Newark," Christie said. "This is a model that we should replicate all over the state of New Jersey. There is no reason that it can't be replicated."

Christie said Robert Treat Academy is the answer to failing schools.

"It is not as if we are walking around in a dark room saying I wish we could just find the light switch," Christie said "The light switch is on. It's here."

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