Toms River Teacher Juggles Motherhood, Classroom, and Volunteer Firefighting Role

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Answering emergency calls while raising two young children and teaching advanced math, Erin Seneca has built a life around service in multiple forms. The Toms River resident joined East Dover Fire Company in 2020, adding volunteer firefighter and EMT duties to her role as a Calculus 2 teacher—all while caring for a toddler and infant at home. Now, six years later, she continues balancing those demands, often navigating childcare limits as she responds to community needs. Seneca, who began volunteering as an EMT in 2006, didn’t enter firefighting until her thirties after moving to Toms River. She said the decision fulfilled a long-standing goal shaped by a family history in the fire service. Balancing Emergencies and Everyday Life “Balancing work, family and volunteering is the trickiest part,” Seneca said, pointing to the unpredictability of emergency calls and the constant need to coordinate childcare for her children, now ages six and four. She serves with East Dover Fire Company, part of the Toms River Fire Department, where she contributes as both a firefighter and EMT. Seneca also teaches at High Technology High School, marking her 20th year in education. Despite her commitment, she acknowledges limitations. Her children