FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Several students and this year’s Governor’s Educators of the Year were recognized for their accomplishments at the May 22 meeting of the Freehold Township Board of Education. Regional and national award-winning students and the representative teachers who inspire them attended the meeting among a supportive crowd of community members.
“This is what I enjoy most,” Superintendent of Schools William Setaro said. “It is amazing to think of all the wonderful teachers and talented students we have in this district and their continuous effort to improve our schools and community.”
The meeting started with recognition for Boy Scout Troop 155 and Troop 18 for their hard work in planting more than 20 trees at the West Freehold School. In partnership with Mike Alvarado of Alvarado Nursery, the Shade Tree Commission and the district’s municipal partners, the troop members planted the trees as part of a community service project.
West Freehold School Principal Elizabeth Giacobbe expressed her thanks and noted that the Scouts’ work has made the school a beautiful place for years to come. Giacobbe presented the troop leaders with posters depicting trees of thanks created by West Freehold School students.
Casey Perkins, an eighth-grader at the Eisenhower Middle School, was recognized by the board for having her essay published in the Asbury Park Press as part of a Student Voices competition. Casey is one of three Eisenhower students who have won as part of the competition.
Fifth grade shared-time students and winners of the Lockheed Martin 2007 National Space Day Competition, Chris Raia, Mitchell Applegate and Austin Treubert, were also recognized at the meeting. The students placed first among 178 teams from 17 states in the nation for creating the best stretch and fetch design, one of six space related design categories. Earlier this month the students were honored by NASA in Washington, D.C.
“National winners are hard to come by and these students worked very hard to reach their goal,” said Catherine Creech, the shared time teacher at the Laura Donovan School.
Two eighth-grade students, Christopher Anastasio of the Barkalow Middle School, and Alexandra Bujalski of the Eisenhower Middle School, also attended the meeting and were praised by their principals for winning the Norman J. Field Award.
“These awards are given to students who demonstrate outstanding academic accomplishments, leadership and citizenship,” Barkalow Principal John Soviero said.
After the board awarded certificates to all of the accomplished students, educators from each of the district’s schools were recognized for winning the 2007 Governor’s Professional Educator of the Year award.
“It is so fitting to share the accomplishments of the students with the recognition of teachers who make an amazing difference in the classroom every day,” Assistant Superintendent Sandra Brower said.
The educators were Sharon Calder, teacher at the Early Childhood Learning Center; Michele Weissman, school nurse at the C. Richard Applegate School; Nina Codispoti, first-grade teacher at the Joseph J. Catena School; Danielle Velez, second-grade teacher at the Laura Donovan School; Celine McNally, third grade teacher at the Marshall W. Errickson School; Clair Lasky, nurse at the West Freehold School; Christopher Urso, special education teacher at the Barkalow Middle School; and Joelle Nappi, special education teacher at the Eisenhower Middle School.
Echoing the sentiment of the teachers who were recognized, Codispoti said, “Thank you for this honor and for letting me live my dream in such a wonderful place.”