In 1997 Charles Stansbury authored Towards a New Spirit: Enough is Enough, a book which chronicles his impoverished childhood, his struggles as a young adult, and charts his path to success as a mature adult. Mr. Stansbury graduated from APHS in 1964, but did not receive his next degree, and Associate of Arts in Education from Brookdale Community College, until 1974. He next graduated from Rider College in 1976 with a B.A. In 1981 he earned a Master of Arts degree in school administration and supervision from Rider College.

Mr. Stansbury is currently the vice-principal of the Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in Asbury Park, and the owner of COFA Publishing, a book publishing company. He has received numerous community and professional awards, including the Community Service Award in 1988 from the Parker Elementary School for outstanding services to the City of Trenton, N.J., Outstanding Man of the Year from the Millhill Church in Trenton in 1989, the Graduation Speakers Award from the Asbury Park Middle School in 1998, and Outstanding Community Service Award from Cordoza High School in Washington D.C.

Mr. Stansbury wrote and published a second book, No Turning Around, in 2002 and is writing a third, which was, or will be published shortly. No Turning Around has become required reading for the 9th grade English classes at APHS. Mr. Stansbury is most proud that he was able to touch the lives of so many teenagers and adults across the state with his writing. He is proud that he has risen from such humble beginnings to become a vice-principal of a school in his hometown. Mr. Stansbury resides in Pennington, NJ, with his wife Wanda. He has two children, Fanya and Coltrane. He has chosen a portion from the Bible that best reflects his philosophy "For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee". (Hebrews 13:5)