Each school has top teacher of year in the building
Roberta Henry, teacher of family and consumer science at Hillsborough High School, is the township schools’ District Teacher of the Year.
Ms. Henry is also the high school’s Teacher of the Year. She has taught in Hillsborough schools since 1996. Ms. Henry instructs students in a preschool/child development lab and then supervises the high school students as they put their knowledge to work in the high school’s pre-school program.
Currently, six former students of Ms. Henry are employed within the district as teachers; each started their teacher training within the walls of Ms. Henry’s classroom.
For the past 12 years, Ms. Henry has also taught self-contained special education students a course in independent living. She began teaching the class years ago with no special education experiences. Over time, Ms. Henry continues to challenge her Independent Living students with new experience; in return they challenge her to grow and develop new teaching styles and methods.
Ms. Henry is considered fearless in tackling new opportunities. This year Ms. Henry’s preschool class is participating in the second phase of the district’s student 1-to-1 pilot computer program. Although nervous about stepping outside her comfort zone, she said she saw this as an opportunity to change her teaching methods and work collaboratively with her peers.
In February, each of the nine district school selected a teacher of the year. as classroom teacher leaders who possess a talent for inspiring a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.
The District Teacher of the Year is chosen from the nine. He or she is selected by a panel of administrators, board members, teachers, parents and local education association representatives.
Ms. Henry will be considered for Somerset County’s Teacher of the Year. A New Jersey state award is given to one of the 21 county winners.
These Hillsborough teachers were each recognized by their individual schools as Teacher of the Year:
Lisa Caudill 4th grade teacher, Amsterdam Elementary.
This ’marks the 9th year of Ms. Caudill’s participation in Amsterdam’s Locks of Love campaign. Ms. Caudill, also Amsterdam’s character education facilitator, began the school’s program when she, with the support of her students, donated her hair to the organization. Since its start, the program boasts more than 350 donors. She feels it promotes student character and educates students to become agents of change in their community.
Kara McKenna, 3rd grade teacher, Hillsborough Elementary.
Ms. McKenna can often be found supporting her students (past and present) at their after-school sporting events and recitals. Ms. McKenna is actively involved in many of Hillsborough Elementary’s service projects as well as working at every Home and School event from Picto to babysitting during meetings.
Maureen Mullin, 4th grade teacher, Sunnymead.
’By differentiating her instruction on a daily basis to make learning accessible to all students, Ms. Mullin sends her students into the world equipped with the tools and skills that they can apply to attain their personal successes.
Sandra Smith, kindergarten teacher, Triangle.
Ms. Smith, who has taught here for the past 16 years, was recognized by her colleagues and the parents of Triangle speaking volumes about her dedication to her colleagues, children and their families.
Amy Fidacaro, 3rd grade teacher, Woodfern.
Ms. Fidacaro, a 17-year veteran at Woodfern, says that one of her yearly goals is for her students to develop and continue a love of reading. Fidacaro feels that reading and writing are the fundamentals of life.
Amy Mele, 2nd grade teacher, Woods Road.
Ms. Mele feels one of her greatest teaching impacts has been through mentoring student teachers. She has had three student teachers during the past nine years of her professional career. This year, she was thrilled when her most recent student teacher was hired to teach at Woods Road School.
Ann Cartmell, 5th grade teacher, Auten Road.
Ms. Cartmell feels she has two great accomplishments in education. She feels that once a student feels loved and safe there is no limit to what they can achieve. In the district’s technology initiative, she is constantly striving for ways to infuse technology into her classroom and engage students.
Linda Suozzo, speech and language specialist, Hillsborough Middle School.
Ms. Suozzo enjoys working with students with varying learning, cognitive, developmental and physical conditions. Each student provides the opportunity to learn therapies, perfect practices and develop individualized programs, she said.