MONTGOMERY: School retirees honored at Recognition Night

By Marisa Iati, Staff Writer
   MONTGOMERY — Twelve school district staff members and more than 35 students were honored for their accomplishments Tuesday evening at Montgomery Township Board of Education Recognition Night, which was held at Montgomery Upper Middle School.
   The board, superintendent of schools, principals and vice principals recognized nine staff members who will retire at the end of the school year as well as three teachers and approximately three dozen students who have achieved noteworthy accomplishments. The students attend the Upper Middle School, Lower Middle School and Village Elementary School.
   High School Principal Paul Popadiuk honored John Arnold, who will retire this year, after 33 years of service to the school. Since joining the faculty in 1978, Mr. Arnold has been an in-class support teacher in mathematics, science, English, industrial arts and history as well as a soccer and tennis coach.
   ”I am extremely happy for him as he heads off to enjoy years of relaxation with his friends and family,” said Mr. Popadiuk. “I’m also selfishly sad, not only because I’m losing an excellent educator, but also because I’m losing a warm, caring human being and also a friend.”
   Superintendent of Schools Earl T. Kim acknowledged Gail Palumbo, director of instructional technology, who will also retire this year.
   ”She oversaw the roll-out of the infrastructure that you see today,” said Mr. Kim. “There is no task that Gail Palumbo could not do quickly, expediently and with great joy.”
   Barbara Scheese, another retiree, has taught second grade in the district for 39 years with an emphasis on mathematics and support for struggling students.
   Georgianna Kichura, vice principal of the Lower Middle School, commended Christian Smith on his service teaching general music, vocal music and band since 1974.
   ”You always modeled the behavior you expected,” said Mrs. Kichura. “Your classes were all taught with high expectations.”
   Upper Middle School Principal William Robbins praised retiree Mary Stocklin for her 10 years as a guidance counselor in the district.
   ”You are as much a counselor to the staff as you are to the students, and we all recognize that,” said Mr. Robbins.
   Susan Lacy, principal of Village Elementary School, cited retiree Eleanor Tillman for her service to pre-school, elementary school and middle school students.
   Donald Christensen, Joan Hlubik and Terry Sautters also retire this year but were not at the ceremony.
   The Lower Middle School and Upper Middle School principals also honored the accomplishments of three other teachers. Laura Dempsey earned the Alumni Association Graduate School Academic Achievement Award for her thesis project. Keith Fritz published the book “Night Storms” and Tara Staab earned the NJ Technology Education Association’s 2011 Middle School Program Excellence Award for creating the Lower Middle School’s industrial design course.
   The other awards recognized students for their accomplishments in community service, music, fine art, writing, Braille and chess.
   Seven Village Elementary School students received special recognition for organizing a fund-raiser called Cranes for Japan. The students sold more than 500 cranes, 400 wristbands and several other origami items to earn more than $5,000 for the Japan Society in New York.