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Health & Fitness

Manchester's 2011 Teachers of the Year Honored

Manchester Township School District's 2011 Teachers of the Year were honored at the May BOE meeting.

The Ridgeway Elementary School Media Center was standing room only as family, friends and colleagues of Manchester’s 2011 Teachers of the Year came out to see them honored at the May 11 Manchester Township Board of Education meeting.

David Trethaway, Superintendent of Schools, said, “All of our teachers certainly do a great job and they often go above and beyond.  This is just one small way we are able to say thank you, not only to these teachers, but to all of our teachers.”

Each honoree was introduced by their building principal and presented with a small gift and certificate from the Board of Education.

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Manchester Township Elementary School
& District Teacher of the Year - Janice Carey

Janice Carey has been teaching for the past 25 years, 23 of them in Manchester.

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Principal, Dr. Frances Scudese, said, “She was a born teacher.  It has been heard that Janice knew since Kindergarten that she wanted to teach.” Scudese said she first knew Janice as a fourth grade teacher who “incorporated her winning smile touched with high expectations in her daily delivery to students and staff.”

“With her gift of teaching, I believed that she could touch the minds of many more children by working as a basic skills instructor.  Since she came into this role, her job description is forever expanding.  Her involvement with the children in flex grouping has been outstanding.  Classroom teachers utilize her in a most effective manner and team teaching is ongoing in the grades to which Janice is assigned.”

Carey is also a building coordinator for NJASK testing, and co-advisor to the MTES Jr. Impact Club, where she works with 5th grade students on community service and outreach programs.  She is also on the Board of Directors for the Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation, organizing the annual Avon Walk for Ovarian Cancer as tribute to a friend she lost to the disease. 

Carey, who was moved to tears by Scudese’s mention of her friend, thanked her friends, family, administrators, the BOE, coworkers, parents and students ‘who all had a hand in this.’  Describing her love of teaching, she said that among the reasons she feels privileged is because ‘I get to teach children who might someday find the cure for ovarian cancer.’

Manchester Township Middle School
Teacher of the Year - Marcy Paglione

Marcy Paglione is a graduate of Manchester High School, who began teaching sixth grade at Manchester Middle School in 1992.  She started out in Math and Social Studies and is now specialized in Science.

Principal Thomas Baxter said that Paglione has also mentored at risk youth; participated in many committees, including the District Curriculum Council and Middle School Assessment Committee; and served as Middle School spokesperson for the new county-wide science curriculum.  She has also mentored new teachers and is a cooperating teacher for student teachers. “And what a good start they get with Marcy,” said Baxter.  “I am always impressed by the energy and enthusiasm she has every day – when that bell rings, she’s on.”

“I am so honored,” said Paglione.  “I know how fortunate I am to go to work every day and love what I do.  I don’t consider my teaching work–it’s a part of who I am.”

Ridgeway Elementary School
Teacher of the Year - Robyn Pilcher

Robyn Pilcher has taught third grade at Ridgeway since 2006. 

Diane Pedroza, Ridgeway Principal, said that Pilcher lives and breathes teaching.  “She embraces new initiatives and is constantly striving for ideas, strategies and practices that allow her to be the best teacher she can for her students.  Robyn has embraced technology and has meaningfully infused 21st century skills into her classroom.”

Pedroza said that Pilcher is constantly teaching both her and the Ridgeway staff about new technology and has written many grants to fund technology and other instructional materials in her classroom.  “Robyn is a bright light.  She ignites others and by doing so has made a difference in the lives of many children.”

Pilcher said she always wanted to be a teacher, showing a copy of a note she wrote when she was in third grade saying that someday she would be a third grade teacher.  Thanking her colleagues, family, friends and students, she then used technology, specifically a computer projector and interactive whiteboard, to show video clips of her students’ advice for her speech.  Some of the comments: “Be yourself…Speak from the heart…Stay confident…Try to have fun.”

Whiting Elementary School
Teacher of the Year - Brenda Sheftall

Brenda Sheftall has been teaching Physical Education & Health at Whiting School for the past seven years.      She also organizes the school’s Wellness Committee and the MUNCH Night Health Fair, and serves as a chair for her School Professional Development Committee.

“Brenda is an amazing teacher who consistently challenges her students as well as herself to make health and wellness a top priority at Whiting School,” remarked Marge Stevens, Principal. “This year, Brenda has implemented the Fitness Gram, a standardized fitness assessment, into her daily lessons.  She has also met the challenge of learning how best to meet the teaching/learning needs of the students in our two new Autism classes. Throughout the year, Brenda engages students in many challenging fitness activities including the Turkey Trot, Jump Rope for Heart, Kickball and Tetherball recess tournaments, NFL Punt, Pass & Kick, Field Day and the list goes on.  Our children just love to come to Gym and Recess.”

“I would like to thank the staff at Whiting School for always being there to help me and to pick me up, even when things don’t seem to going that well,” said Sheftall.  She said that the entire staff, including paraprofessionals, custodians and secretaries as well as teachers and Mrs. Stevens, is always there to lend a hand with whatever project she is working on.

Manchester Township High School
Teacher of the Year - Val Schaefer

Val Schaefer has been teaching Special Education in Manchester for the past 28 years.  She also mentors first-year teachers and student teachers, serves on the school assessment committee, and recently added a ‘highly qualified teacher’ certification in English and Social Studies to her Special Education certification.

“Val has created an educational sanctuary for her students and, after 27 years of teaching special education in just about every subject and grade level possible at the high school, she took on a new assignment this year with our MD (multiple disabilities) program.  Just what you would expect from a highly interested and motivated educator,” Principal Alex George commented.  “To walk into Val’s classroom is to see students truly engaged in the learning process and loving every minute of it.  She has created a family atmosphere where students are challenged and meet with success on a daily basis.”

Schaefer thanked her fellow teachers for honoring her, saying, “I am fortunate to be able to teach with some of the most talented and gifted teachers in the state of New Jersey.”

Regional Day School
Teacher of the Year - Leslie Old

Leslie Old is an Occupational Therapist at Regional Day. 

Ralph Lotierzo, Principal, praised her for her creativity, diagnostic skills, and high energy level. He said that on any given day, Old might be found working with individual students like a 13-year whose life was dramatically changed by a car accident; teaching independent leisure skills to autistic students in the pool; or helping ‘cool’ students who are resistant to exercise develop muscle tone using exercises disguised as dance moves.
“Wherever you find her, you will find innovative and exciting occupational therapy at its very best,” Lotierzo said.

After she left a wonderful job at private school she had previously worked for, Old said, “I thought I would never find another job where I love to go to work everyday – and then I came to Regional Day.  I am so privileged to work with these students who show me their abilities throughout their daily struggles.”

 

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