By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
Even as young child, Manville High School teacher Ashley Wollesen always knew she wanted to become a teacher when she grew up. This profession gave her the honor of Manville High School Teacher of the Year for 2010-2011.
”Growing up, I always played school in my room. I had a chalk board, grade book, desks, notebooks, a mini-library and worksheets made up. I used to teach my stuffed animals for hours on end. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. As an only child, I had to be imaginative and creative to entertain myself and I always loved teaching to my ‘students’ in my classroom/play room,” said Ms. Wollesen.
Ms. Wollesen found out about her honor while she was in class.
”I found out during my third-block class from an e-mail from Dr. Ruberto. I gasped and the students asked me what was wrong. I told them and they started clapping. It was a great moment,” she said. “The following day Dr. Brunn came over the loudspeaker with a few trivia questions about me for the students to guess who was named Teacher of the Year. I was so overwhelmed with excitement.
”I truly love my ‘job’ here in Manville, and I say ‘job’ because I really don’t feel like its work sometimes. I am so thankful everyday for my position here and my students. I love working with the students and teaching Language Arts.”
As a Language Arts teacher at MHS, Ms. Wollesen has been teaching in the district for four years. She has taught ninth, 10th and 11th grades in Language Arts. Ms. Wollesen graduated from Monmouth University with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and English.
Two of her teachers were Ms. Wollesen’s inspiration to return to the classroom as a teacher.
”In high school, I had two favorite teachers and they really took care to make their students well rounded individuals,” she said. “Mrs. Williamson and Mrs. Restaino really motivated me to use my talents as a future high school teacher.”
Her love of reading is something Ms. Wollesen enjoys teaching in her classes. “My favorite “thing” to teach is close reading. I love being able to break down a novel, short story, poem, play down to the nitty gritty. When you break the words down so the students have one of those ‘A-HA, light’bulb moments’ and get the true meaning of what the author was trying to convey is the best feeling in the world. My favorite thing to teach is ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller.”
Ms. Wollesen is also involved in MHS activities, including being the assistant drama director, and Class of 2011 and 2014 co-advisor.
Principal Dr. James Brunn praised Ms. Wollesen, saying “She is a decent human being who wants to help people. The amount of work that she puts forward just in planning and the way she keeps her classroom impeccable really does make a difference and I know the students do appreciate it. I just love the fact that she participates in school actitivies and really wants to make Manville High School an excellent place to learn. She is friendly by nature, intelligent, and industrious and that combination to me is a winner. I wasn’t surprised that she was nominated and won.”
Ms. Wollesen said this special honor will be one she will remember.
”I will always remember the moment I found out and realize what an honor and reward it is to be recognized for doing something you love,” the teacher said. “I will never forget how important the students are. I will be forever grateful and humbled by his honor. I would like to thank the students, my colleagues and parents who awarded me with his honor. I truly appreciate it and look forward to many more exciting and fulfilling years here in Manville.”

