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Teachers earn state honor
(by Kathryn A. Burger - March 24, 2008)
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Staff Photo by Kathryn A. Burger
The Park Ridge Board of Education recognized three faculty members as recipients of this year’s Governor’s Recognition Awards. They are, from left, Lisa McKenna, a fifth-grade teacher at East Brook Elementary School; Thomas Bauer, a teacher of Spanish and district supervisor of world languages at the high school; and Celeste Miller, who teaches sixth grade at West Ridge.
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Three teachers, one from each of the district’s three schools, were honored at the March 17 board of education meeting: Thomas Bauer, Lisa McKenna and Celeste Miller, from the high school, East Brook Elementary, and West Ridge Elementary, respectively. They are this year’s recipients of the New Jersey Governor’s Recognition Award.
In his opening remarks, Mark Cosgrove, the high school’s assistant principal, provided a brief history of the award. Established in 1985, the annual awards recognize outstanding teachers who have been nominated by their peers or students. In 2004, the pool of eligible staff members was broadened to include faculty who operate outside the standard classroom setting. These professionals include special services, child study team, and media staff, among others.
Cosgrove said that, unlike some districts,
Park Ridge has multiple nominees from each school every year. “This isn’t an award that is given to someone because they are retiring or because ‘it’s their turn,’ ” he said. The committee that reviews the nominations and selects the recipients consists of a member of the board of education, representatives from the parent-faculty groups, the Park Ridge Education Foundation, representatives from the bargaining unit at each school and the previous year’s winners.
High school honoree
Thomas Bauer is in his 40th – and last – year as a teacher of Spanish. He will retire this year, having served the last 30 years as the district’s supervisor of world languages. He was nominated by a former student. In his introductory remarks, Principal Richard Martinez, who identified himself as a “native Spanish speaker,” spoke about Bauer’s tenure at the school. “He recently organized his 33rd International Dinner, a culinary event held at the school that features foods from Spanish, French and German cultures. He has been football coach for 34 years.”
He characterized Bauer as an excellent teacher, “on the field and in the classroom.” He added, “He’s had 20 years of perfect attendance, and many with only once absence.” When
Martinez said that even though Bauer would no longer teach at the high school, he would continue his work with the football team, the audiences applauded warmly.
In his brief remarks, Bauer spoke of his years in the district, and acknowledged two people, both of whom were present. Norbert Langer, a teacher of German at the high school, who was the high’s school’s first recipient of the Governor’s Award; and James Donahue, a teacher of French at the high school, a recent recipient. Bauer said it had been his privilege to work with them over the years.
East Brook honoree
Lisa McKenna, fifth grade teacher as East Brook, was introduced by Principal Sheldon Silver. He praised McKenna’s work ethic and said she “richly deserved” the award. Having taught fourth grade for nearly a decade, Silver said she began teaching at
Park Ridge when fourth-graders were the only elementary students who had to take state mandated tests.
“Her students’ scores were always high,” he said, and added, “now that she’s teaching fifth grade, she continues to do an outstanding job.” He said her love of learning and ability to translate abstract concepts into a form that her students can understand was just one of her many outstanding qualities as a teacher. He also noted her exceptional ability to “connect to children. She’s is an expert at it.”
West Brook honoree
Celeste Miller, who is retiring after 38 years in the district, was introduced by Principal Christine McCaffery. “Celeste is the type of teacher every principal wants in their school. She is kind, friendly and hardworking. She always gives of herself to her students and fellow staff members.”
Over the years, McCaffery said, Miller has taught in grades one through 10 and in all three schools. She currently teaches sixth grade. And although she has taught many subjects, McCaffery mentioned her, “love of math” in particular. Patricia Johnson, the district superintendent, said, “She is leaving at the top of her career.”
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
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