7 teachers honored
for exemplary efforts
BY LINDA DeNICOLA
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Sharon Brown has been teaching for 36 years, including seven at the Eisenhower Middle School, Burlington Road. She is one of seven staff members from the township’s K-8 school district who were recently recognized for their teaching excellence by the state Department of Education under the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Program.
The program was established in 1985.
Brown said there are many teachers in the district who work as hard as she does and she called it an honor to be selected.
"You have to be nominated by students, teachers or parents, however, the final selection is made by a committee that consists of Board of Education members, teachers and parents," she said.
Freehold Township’s other Teacher of the Year winners are Janet Griffin, C. Richard Applegate School; Danielle Sansevere, Barkalow Middle School; Cindy Vlaez, Joseph J. Catena School; Bev Pages, Laura Donovan School; Sandy Bavaro, Marshall W. Errickson School; and Bridget Nicola, West Freehold School.
The winning teachers were recognized by the board at its May 11 meeting. A program followed by a luncheon was held at the PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, on May 22 to honor all of Monmouth County’s award recipients.
The criteria for selection of teachers include the effective use of instructional techniques and methods; establishment of productive classroom climate and rapport with students; the development of feelings of self-worth and love of learning in students; the use of creativity, innovation and efficiency in the classroom; the ability to increase student achievement of the Core Curriculum Content Standards through a learning-focused environment; the ability to contribute to the quality of the professional development in their district; and the ability to use educational technology in an effective and efficient manner.
Brown said it is unusual for a health and physical education teacher to be selected, but as she pointed out, she does more than just teaching phys ed.
Her school day begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 5:30 p.m., unless there is a program going on at night. On those evenings she comes back.
"My philosophy of teaching is to be involved in the total experience of the child, not just the instructional piece. I try to be a mentor, and that’s why I come back at night to every program. I come back for things like plays, dances and basketball games," she said.
Brown, who has taught in Colorado, St. Louis, Detroit and Freehold Borough, is on many teams and committees. She is a member of the Eisenhower school improvement team and the crisis team. She is also the team leader of the health and physical education department.
In addition, she created a cultural diversity club in the school district.
"I found a need, and I see that our schools are better for it," she said.
As if all of that work is not enough for one person, Brown is also involved with a committee to encourage and increase a positive attitude in the schools and she is on a panel that addresses the issue of bullying in school.
"I also help write the curriculum for the district’s physical education programs and I work with the music teacher to teach and choreograph the dances," she said.
Brown and her husband, Greg, have four grown children, two girls and two boys.
"Ninety-nine percent of the teachers here at this school do what I do," she said. "I’m just honored to be the one chosen this year. Teaching is a dream of mine that has been fulfilled. It’s a pleasure. When I wake up in the morning I don’t think I’m going to work."