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MANVILLE: Mentors inspired ABIS award winner

By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
   Lunch is usually a calm peaceful time when teachers get to sit down, relax and just take some time for themselves. But for Alexander Batcho Intermediate School teacher William Kurzius it wasn’t that at all on Wednesday of last week.
   Mr. Kurzius has been named the school’s Teacher of the Year for 2011. Mr. Kurzius was chosen for the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award by a panel of teachers, administrators and parents after having parents, staff and students write in a nomination for his teaching abilities.
   ABIS Principal Michael Magliacano was lucky enough to give the good news to Mr. Kurzius.
   ”Mr. Magliacano came into the faculty lounge during my lunch and told me,” Mr. Kurzius said. “I was very surprised. I had completely forgotten that the recipients hadn’t been announced yet. I forgot that the whole thing was going on I was distracted with testing going on and it came out of nowhere for me.”
   Mr. Kurzius has been teaching for six years, all in the Manville School District. He has taught from fourth to eighth grades in technology and math and is teaching a bridge building class this year. Mr. Kurzius earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from The College of New Jersey.
   Teaching was not Mr. Kurzius’ first choice as he decided after college that the degree with his major was not the best thing for him.
   ”At first, it was simply another option for a job after college. I had some job interviews that were more in line with my degree, but nothing panned out. My father actually convinced me to pursue it since I had already been a coach for many years and math and computer teachers are typically in high demand,” he said.
   By becoming a teacher, Mr. Kurzius said he was inspired by one of his own teachers.
   ”I had some fantastic teachers when I was in school that have influenced my teaching methods. My industrial arts teacher from high school stands out in my mind. He had a great sense of humor and had a lot of passion for his job,” he said.
   Mr. Kurzius said his favorite thing to teach students is math because of the challenge of inventing different ways to present the concepts.
   ”Excellent teachers do more than deliver the required curriculum,” Mr. Magliacano said. “They fuel students with the energy to achieve, explore and surpass their potential. They bolster students’ confidence while also prodding them into new and challenging territory. Mr. Kurzius has served many different roles at Alexander Batcho Intermediate School, from technology teacher and consultant for staff to mathematics support to embracing and expanding our hands-on Structures course in its first year of inception.
   ”Mr. Kurzius recognizes the value of understanding student interests, heritage and displays this knowledge of individual students,” Mr. Magliacano continued. “He has created a classroom atmosphere that is positive, supportive and safe while maintaining a child-centered, nurturing environment. Mr. Kurzius exudes a professional approach to his craft while remaining open to suggestion. He has volunteered to participate in school and district events, making a substantial contribution. Mr. Kurzius has also established the ABIS baseball program. We are both grateful and proud to celebrate your contributions to Alexander Batcho Intermediate School.”
   ”I felt thrilled,” Mr. Kurzius said. “It is a great honor to be recognized by my peers and administration. It means a lot. It’s good to be recognized but it is not going to change much for me. I am still going to work hard. I love teaching so it is nice to be recognized but keep working and keeping going.”