OLD BRIDGE – Nineteen educators were recognized as Teacher or Education Support Professional (ESP) of the Year by the Old Bridge Township Board of Education.
The annual Teacher of the Year recognition program is managed by the district Instructional Council, a committee made up of teachers, administrators and central administrators, according to information provided by the Old Bridge Public School District. Each year, the council welcomes nominations from parents, guardians and students. This year they received 691 nominations from across the district.
Instructional Council Co-Chairs Stacey Swider and Sally Fazio introduced the 19 award recipients during a reception on May 17 at Old Bridge High School, all of whom, according to Swider, “have provided an educational experience that motivates, encourages and fosters a learning environment that allows for maximum student achievement.”
The 2021-22 Teacher of the Year recipients are: Laura Ambos (Carpenter Elementary), Rebecca Seiden (Cooper Elementary), Eileen Tomas (Glenn Elementary), Mandy Dyas (Grissom Elementary), Sarah Sandler (Madison Park Elementary), Brook Balsam (McDivitt Elementary), Dionne Phillips (Memorial Elementary), Tami Gennarelli (Miller Elementary), Heather Bacelo (Schirra Elementary), Angela Schroek (Shepard Elementary), Brittany Frazier Southwood Elementary), Nicole Harvey (Voorhees Elementary), Lori Lesser (Salk), Sue Stahl (Sandburg), Carolyn Hauser (GNC), and Scott Beverly (OBHS).
The Educational Support Specialists of the Year are: Desiree Remotti (Elementary ESP), Lisa Tonnisen (Secondary ESP), and Cheryl Berkuta (District Instructional Coach).
This year’s ceremony was the first in-person ceremony in two years, a fact that district superintendent David Cittadino highlighted as he congratulated all educators.
“Aside from people working in hospitals and first responders, educators have been at the forefront of the challenges of [the pandemic] and have modified their work and adapted and were true champions of children and continued learning as the world was turned on its head,” he said in the statement.