District News

At its Board of Education meeting on May 20, 2026, the Somerset Hills School District approved Mrs. Jessica McGinn as Supervisor of Athletics, Health, and Physical Education for the 2026-2027 school year. She will join the district on July 1, 2026.

Beginning her career in 2001 as a Health and Physical Education teacher, McGinn taught for 19 years, starting in the Morris School District at the high school level and, after four years, joining the Somerset Hills School District to work with middle school children. In addition to focusing on health and fitness education with students, she also wrote and revised curriculum and adapted instructional strategies to promote learning amongst varied skill levels. During her time at Bernardsville Middle School, she was very involved in nurturing the school community and planned many school-wide events and team-building activities. She served on both the BMS School Safety Team and the Climate and Culture Committee. In 2021, McGinn was nominated by colleagues, students, and parents and subsequently received the Educator of the Year award.

Following her career in the classroom (and gymnasium), McGinn gained experience as both a Director of Athletics and a Supervisor of Health/PE & Athletics in Morris County. She oversaw robust athletics programs that encompassed a wide range of sports, coaches, and trainers. She supervised Health and PE teachers and planned meaningful professional development opportunities. 

Additionally, she managed budgets for both PE and Athletics, and collaborated with administrators and staff to advocate for overall student wellness. Many of McGinn’s strengths align with her upcoming role within the Somerset Hills School District, including her strong commitment to building character-driven student-athletes and a positive atmosphere of teamwork and stellar sportsmanship. As an athletic administrator, her goal is to cultivate a culture where character, integrity, accountability, and leadership are valued as highly as athletic achievement. McGinn believes that athletics provide an opportunity to develop confident, resilient, and compassionate young people who will lead beyond the playing field. Through high standards and meaningful relationships, she strives to create programs that promote excellence in competition and academics.

“Returning to the Somerset Hills School District feels like coming home,” said McGinn. “Some of my fondest memories of my professional career happened right on Olcott Field. Mike Hoppe has led Bernards Athletics through decades of excellence, and I am grateful for the opportunity to carry on his legacy.”

McGinn earned her Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Rutgers University and her Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the College of Saint Elizabeth. She was a former Division I Collegiate Athlete at Rutgers University. She was the BHS Varsity Girls Lacrosse Coach for fourteen years, accumulating 200+ wins while leading her teams to capture three State Sectionals and one State Championship. McGinn has also earned multiple regional coaching awards and was the New Jersey Coach of the Year in 2014.