Christine Sturtevant wins prestigious award
By Kaitlyn Kanzler, Special Writer
CRANBURY — Christine Sturtevant was honored as the 2013 Governor’s Teacher Recognition recipient at the school’s annual student recognition night last month.
”This is a great honor. This is a night of celebration. It’s out favorite night of the year, next to graduation and honors night,” Board of Education member Mike Ferrante said. “Excellence is definitely a theme for tonight.”
According to Chief School Administrator Susan Genco, Ms. Sturtevant an active member of the Cranbury School community.
She is an assistant coach for the soccer and tennis teams and helps create the school’s yearbook as well as participating in several other activities.
”I really just want to thank the Board of Education, the administration, my colleagues, my wonderful students, and the community. It’s because of all of you that I love coming to work today,” Ms. Sturtevant said.
According to Mr. Ferrante, the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Program was developed in 1985 to acknowledge teachers who exhibit an outstanding performance based on the premise that teaching excellence is one of the most significant factors in student achievement and the quality of public schools.
”This is about excellence in teaching and encouraging excellence among peers and this is a responsibility for teachers and a responsibility for the classroom,” Mr. Ferrante said.
In 2004, it recognized all education service professions, such as nurses and the members of the child study team.
”I liken this to the Academy Awards where you have these fabulous runners-up and you have fabulous professionals in this field. And everyone’s rooting for everyone else and celebrating their accomplishments,” Dr. Genco said. “And when you really look at all our teachers do here at Cranbury School, they are, bar none, one of the best group of educators I have ever had the privilege of working with. And I love to celebrate in our teachers’ successes because it really speaks to all the things that you don’t see that teachers do for the students in addition to what you do see.”
Mr. Ferrante served on the selection committee for the award along with last year’s award winner, Danielle Burke, PTO and parent representation, and Jeannine Lanphear, supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction .
Some of the criteria includes the encouragement the teachers give their students, how well the nominee teaches, and how that teacher comes across to the students using all sorts of methods, as well as what the teacher does beyond the classroom.
”It’s a daunting task. There’s a great group of teachers in this school,” Mr. Ferrante said.
According to Mr. Ferrante, the selection committee was made up of five members who had to choose from a pool of applicants.
”Everyone who knows Ms. Sturtevant knows she embodies these (criteria) and more,” Mr. Ferrante said.
Ms. Sturtevant has been a full-time fourth grade teacher at Cranbury School since 2008, where she was previously a teaching assistant.
”Ms. Sturtevant goes above and beyond for former and current students,” Dr. Genco said. “(She) serves as a positive role model for student’s and build’s students’ self-confidence and self-worth while fostering a love for learning.”
Dr. Genco said she had Ms. Sturtevant’s students make some notes of congratulations and put them together in a presentation as well as asking Ms. Sturtevant’s colleagues about her.
Both groups sung her praises, saying she has a bond with present and past students and cares about them.
”This is such an honor especially since when I work among so many talented and dedicated individuals in this building. Thank from the bottom of my heart. All these kind words mean so much,” Ms. Sturtevant said.