A month after landing at Pennsville, Blessing returning to GCIT after board finds funding to restore her former teaching, coaching posts
By Brian Tortella
Special to Riverview Sports News
It has been less than a month since Gloucester County Institute of Technology head softball coach Jamie Blessing was approved as the new health and physical education teacher and assistant softball coach at Pennsville Memorial High School after she was forced to search for a job when her position was slashed at the Group 4 school due to a lack of funding.
But the situation has changed.
Blessing confirmed Monday afternoon that she submitted her resignation to Pennsville athletic director Jamy Thomas after receiving the news earlier this week that her positions at GCIT were restored and she was hired back.
“I’m excited to keep my position and keep my day-to-day job,” Blessing said. “I enjoy working at GCIT. I love the kids, I have great coworkers, and athletes. I want to continue to be able to be a part of their successes and to continue to be able to build the program.
“I’m sincerely grateful for Jamy Thomas and the opportunity and the confidence he gave me throughout the hiring process. I appreciate him and Pennsville being understanding of my decision, and I wish them the best of luck.”
Blessing was one of five GCIT teachers notified their positions were being cut. It is believed four of the five teachers have been rehired.
There were rumors circulating over the last few months of the possibility that the school’s Board of Education would be able to save the positions that were cut, but without a contact, it was just hearsay. The tough situation forced Blessing, who previously held a health and PE position as well as the head softball coaching position at Highland for a decade before leaving for GCIT in 2023, to search for a new job.
Thomas extended well wishes to Blessing and said the school district will begin a search for her replacement immediately.
“While we were excited to welcome Jamie Blessing to our district as a High School Health and Physical Education teacher and Assistant Softball coach, she has made the decision to return to the Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT),” Thomas wrote in a statement to Riverview Sports News Monday. “Jamie had previously faced a reduction in force (RIF) at GCIT, but upon being offered her former position back, she chose to return.
“Although we are disappointed she won’t be joining our team this school year, we completely understand and respect that this decision is in the best interest of her career and her family. We wish her the very best. Our priority remains ensuring our students and athletic programs are fully supported. We will begin the search for her replacement immediately, and we are currently seeking qualified internal candidates for our open assistant coaching positions in both softball and basketball.”Now back at GCIT, Blessing will look to build off a strong 2025-26 campaign in which she led the Cheetahs to a 17-11 record and No. 6 seed in the South Jersey Group 4 tournament. The 17 wins were her single-season high as head coach.
Brian Tortella is a contributor to Riverview Sports News. He can be reached at btortreportssj@gmail.com
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