Once facing an uncertain future due to staff cuts, Jamie Blessing returning to teaching and coaching as a softball assistant at Pennsville
By Brian Tortella
Special to Riverview Sports News
Jamie Blessing sat in her usual seat behind the left side of the fence.
With a typical focused look in her eyes and a white notepad in her hand, the GCIT head softball coach arose from her stool to direct her players at third base.
Under her guidance on that beautiful May evening, the Cheetahs overcame a two-run deficit and upended Williamstown in a Tri-County Royal Division matchup.
Business went as usual. The players lined up for postgame handshakes, and Blessing caught up with Braves coach Dan Torcasio, a longtime divisional rival and friendly foe, at home plate. Afterward, senior night was celebrated.
In Blessing’s eyes, this year’s GCIT program was one of the best, “if not the best,” she has ever coached, and it was her responsibility to guide the Cheetahs to achieve their maximum potential.
But as she walked off the field with husband Kyle and their 7-month-old son Braxton that night a dire reality loomed.
Blessing, who just completed her third year teaching health and physical education at the Sewell-based school, received a Reduction in Force letter two days before the game, official notice that her teaching position has been slashed for the upcoming 2026-27 school year.
The RIF letter came less than two months after Blessing received a Rice Notice on March 16, just a month after she returned from maternity leave. In New Jersey, a Rice Notice is a required 48-hour advance notification sent to public employees, such as school staff, when a Board of Education intends to discuss their specific employment, performance or termination in a closed, private session.
“I started school in September and I had my son Braxton on October 5, so I literally worked up until the day,” Blessing said. “So, I’ve been out on maternity leave from October until the first week of February. I’m grinding, doing my job, doing everything I need to do, and then I received a notice that my job was up in discussion for next year.
“I was extremely shocked. It made myself sick, I was sick. I had to literally ask, ‘What is this Rice letter?’ Everyone was like ‘Oh, don’t worry about it, they give them out when they’re discussing anything about your job, don’t worry about it, don’t worry about it.’”
But the following morning, she realized it wasn’t just a normal notice given to the majority of staff.
According to Blessing, she was just one of five teachers that received notice, which was certainly not what she initially expected. Among others, head boys tennis coach Jeff Ferraino’s health and physical education position was also slashed.
The elimination of numerous positions seemingly appears to be sweeping school districts across the Garden State during this grueling budget season. According to media reports, many school districts are facing layoffs just to stay afloat.
Part of the strain stems from changes to New Jersey’s school funding law. In 2018, the state revised its school funding formula to shift aid toward districts considered historically underfunded. But that left other districts scrambling to replace millions of dollars in lost revenue, according to NJ Advance Media.
Blessing’s board meeting was held March 18 in the GCIT Theater. There were 150 students in the audience, she said, for a meeting that lasted two and a half hours.
“Softball girls were there and students were there, and they weren’t just fighting for me, they were fighting for all five of the teachers,” Blessing said.
Upon graduating from Rowan University in 2012, Blessing started her teaching career at Highland Regional High School, where she also served as the head softball coach until she left for GCIT in 2023.
“I was going to get the opportunity to coach better athletes with a lot of talent,” she said. “You’re grabbing kids from all over the county. I have Delsea kids, Williamstown kids, and Kingsway kids. So I knew when the head coaching position and the teaching position was open, I knew I had to take the leap of faith to give myself an opportunity to better myself in a career, but also as a coach.”
Progressive growth was shown over the last three years. Blessing directed the Cheetahs to 14-8 and 11-8 records in her first two seasons and guided them to a 17-11 mark this spring, earning the sixth seed in the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs and falling to Egg Harbor Township. This 17 wins were her single-season high as a head coach.
But with her GCIT teaching position going away, she won’t be out of coaching or teaching long. She has accepted and been board approved as a new health and physical education teacher at Pennsville Memorial High School, effective Sept. 1. And she’ll be filling the upcoming assistant varsity softball coach vacancy, succeeding longtime assistant Lisa Doran.
“I grew up playing softball every weekend. We balanced out having softball and family, and everyone’s different priorities,” Blessing said of still deciding to coach with a toddler at home. “Being involved in a sport is something I’m used to. I’m not ready to give it up yet.”
It may be in a different role, but the same goal for Blessing next spring.
“Having to adapt to not being a head coach and running a program after 14 years is challenging,” she said. “Having the potential to take that program over when the time is right … if the opportunity comes to me and they want me to coach, I would love to take over a program like that.”
Beth Jackson has been Pennsville’s head softball coach since 2009. She picked up her 250th career win earlier this season and most recently guided the Eagles to a stunning 3-1 victory over top-seeded defending champion Audubon in the South Jersey Group 1 semifinal. The Eagles host Woodstown for the sectional championship today.
Pennsville athletic director Jamy Thomas said Blessing would be the perfect fit as a potential successor.
“She’s going to bring a lot,” Thomas said. “She comes with a wealth of knowledge already having been a head coach. Right now the plan is with coach Doran retiring, she’ll step into that spot with coach Jackson next year and we’ll go from there.
“She definitely has the drive and the want to be a head coach and to be successful. She’s seen our program and knows what we offer at Pennsville, especially in the softball area. I’m sure she’s ready to step in whenever Beth is ready to step aside. At this point, we’re going to have an awesome combo next year with the two of them, and I’m excited for both of them.”
Whether it’s a big school or small, head coach or assistant, Gloucester County or Salem, the approach remains the same.
“Guess what, there’s 21 outs and seven innings a game whether you have 20 kids come out to play or 50,” Blessing said. “The game is the game. I’m excited for the opportunity to bring the passion I have for the game to Pennsville for my new future career path.”
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