By Kaitlyn Kanzler, Special Writer
CRANBURY — Former Cranbury Board of Education member Austin Schaudenbach and several retiring teachers were honored at Tuesday’s meeting.
Students, parents, other educators, former board members and a former chief school administrator were present to congratulate and thank the retirees and Mr. Schaudenbach for their years of service to the district.
The award-winning Advanced Jazz Band, under the direction of James Crowley and Dave Pollack, performed one of its festival pieces for the honorees.
At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Schaudenbach was presented with a plaque as a thank you for his years of service to the Cranbury School and by the teacher’s association for his dedication.
”Mr. Schaudenbach is truly an ardent supporter of public education and education in general, Cranbury School in particular,” former Chief School Administrator Robert Bartoletti said.
The current chief school administrator, Susan Genco, shared a personal memory of Mr. Schaudenbach from a committee meeting where they were talking about how to provide better technology for students in and out of the classroom.
Mr. Schaudenbach had asked about having additional technology for students who could not afford it, according to Ms. Genco.
”Although that may have seemed small to you in that conversation, that spoke volumes about Mr. Schaudenbach’s commitment to look at everyone’s needs in the school district, and so every child could have the tools to succeed,” Ms. Genco said. “And that has been your mantra for the last 12 years and for that, we say thank you.”
Mr. Schaudenbach was seeking his fifth term on the board before being unseated by newcomer Karen Callahan, losing by only 25 votes in April’s school elections.
According to Mr. Bartoletti, Mr. Schaudenbach’s approach to working on the board demonstrated commitment and service to the community.
”During the years I have worked with Mr. Schaudenbach, he has been very responsible, very professional member of the board,” Mr. Bartoletti said. “He was committed to supporting the good work of teachers and students alike.”
Retiring teachers were also awarded plaques and thanked for their many years of dedication and service to the community and school.
”There are teachers in everyone’s careers that are special,” Mr. Bartoletti said.
According to Ms. Genco, the five retirees represent 122 total years of experience.
Transportation Director and bus driver Kaye Davison had 43 years of experience alone.
The other teachers that are retiring include kindergarten teacher Sharron Fass, Pre-K teacher Maureen Grace, basic skills teacher Karen Londahl, and math teacher Linda Penney. Ms. Davison has worked as a bus driver, supervisor, and district coordinator with the school district according to Mr. Bartoletti.
”I think you served all those roles with distinction,” Mr. Bartoletti said. “As a driver who’s performed exceptionally well, and as a leader of other drivers, (Ms. Davison) set the example for them to emulate. You didn’t become the leader of the drivers by proclamation or selection, but by recognition of your peers.”
According to Joyce Picariello, business administrator and long-time friend of Ms. Davison, she has driven around 2,000 students in her career.
According to Mr. Bartoletti, Ms. Fass, a teacher for almost 20 years, has been an early childhood educator her entire career.
”She is the teacher who has launched the career of hundreds of children entrusted to her at the tender age of five or six,” Mr. Bartoletti said. “What an awesome responsibility. There’s no better person qualified for that responsibility than you.”
According to Ms. Genco, Ms. Fass says during every kindergarten orientation that she could never love another class more than the class she just had.
According to Ms. Genco, Ms. Grace, a teacher at the Cranbury School for 15 years, is extremely student-centered.
Ms. Grace started the popular CranBuddies, a program for preschoolers, and according to Mr. Bartoletti is one of the most in-depth and effective preschool programs that he has ever seen.
”Ms. Grace made a difference in her children’s lives,” Mr. Bartoletti said. “We gave her an empty classroom and said ‘Go to it, lady,’ and she did.”
”I knew I had selected a star teacher,” Mr. Bartoletti said when talking about Ms. Londahl.
According to Dr. Genco, Ms. Londahl is meticulous in her work ethic and she is the teacher that is organizing and making sure everything is running smoothly behind the scenes for the NJ ASK standardized testing.
”You may not have a classroom of students, but you have a school full of students and your classroom changes from year to year as your learners move,” Ms. Genco said.
Mathematics teacher, Ms. Penney, is a coach for the Math Counts Team and, according to Mr. Bartoletti, she worked with the elementary teachers to develop an interest in math for girls who had excelled in the area.
”For Ms. Penney, good is never good enough and she practiced what she preached,” Mr. Bartoletti said.
Ms. Penney was Cranbury School’s first teacher of the year, was selected as Princeton University’s teacher of the year, and has won several other honors and recognition during her career, according to Mr. Bartoletti.
Ms. Genco read a letter to Ms. Penney from former student, James Kelly, a graduate from the United States Naval Academy last May with a degree in physics and is continuing on at the Navy’s Nuclear Power Training Command as preparation to serve as a submarine officer.
”Ms. Penney not only taught the fundamentals of mathematics, but also showed the utility of those skills in interesting and important real-life projects,” Mr. Kelly said. “In short, Ms. Penney imbued her students with an interest in mathematics and the skills necessary to continue to studying at the higher level.”
Several students were also recognized during the meeting for their successes in the choir, band, and Odyssey of the Mind competition.

