SAYREVILLE – Service professionals from the Sayreville School District have been recognized for their accomplishments during the past school year.
The Sayreville Education Association’s Education Support Services Professionals of the Year for 2018-19 were honored at a Board of Education meeting on May 21.
At Emma Arleth Elementary School, the Sayreville Education Association’s Education Support Services Professional of the Year is Donna Greco.
“She is one of the most dedicated people, but very unassuming,” Principal Robert Preston said. “She loves doing what she does, she loves the kids, she’s so passionate about it, but doesn’t like the recognition for it. But we all believe that she’s so well deserving of this recognition. One of the hardest workers, a just get it done kind of person. You need something, she’ll take care of it for you. And such a team player. That’s one of the things that is so valuable at Arleth, especially in the classes that she works in, being a team player and being somebody who gets things done.
At Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School, the Sayreville Education Association’s Education Support Services Professional of the Year is Meghan Grove.
“Meghan really is such a strong advocate for the children she serves and a resource for all of our staff and myself,” Principal Scott Nurnberger said. “Her knowledge is very deep and useful and we couldn’t run the building without her.”
At Harry S. Truman Elementary School, the Sayreville Education Association’s Education Support Services Professional of the Year is Doreen Ortizio.
“Doreen has been in the district for 17 years, 10 years in Truman, and just an invaluable asset to our school, certainly, and even more invaluable this year,” Principal Timothy Byrne explained. “Doreen has thanked me that she doesn’t have to have a gym membership this year because all of our young kindergarteners who seem to have a yearning to leave the classroom at times. They will go down the hallways in different ways. And who’s after them? Our very Doreen. Without a gym membership, she’s saving money and she’s very grateful to us.
At Samsel Upper Elementary School (SUES), the Sayreville Education Association’s Education Support Services Professional of the Year is Cindy Gallagher.
“Creative and friendly are just two words to describe Cindy,” Principal Stacey Coglianese said. “Cindy brightened our office with her imaginative decorations, whether it be flamingos for the summer or Candyland during the holidays. Cindy always put forth the extra effort to make sure the office was warm and inviting in appearance and especially through her interactions with parents, students and staff.
“Cindy is someone who can be counted on,” Coglianese continued. “Daily, Cindy made sure that students were accounted for, either during arrival or after school. She made numerous phone calls to parents and [afterschool care program] Springboard to make sure we had the proper dismissal information as her first priority was always student safety. Cindy’s attention to detail is spectacular and we are grateful for her diligence she had while working with us. We have missed Cindy since her move to the middle school since January, but so very proud to call her the SUES Education Support Services Professional of the Year.”
At Sayreville Middle School, the Sayreville Education Association’s Education Support Services Professional of the Year is Len Baiori.
“If anybody knows Len, or Mr. Len to our staff and our students, he looks like he’s just off the streets of Brooklyn,” Principal Richard Gluchowski said. “He’s a tough guy, but he’s got the biggest heart. He handles our kids with care, he handles our staff with care and I couldn’t miss a day without him. He’s absolutely a fabulous man.”
At Sayreville War Memorial High School, the Sayreville Education Association’s Education Support Services Professional of the Year is Denise Brown.
“If I could think of three words that I could say about Denise, the first would have to be composure,” said Superintendent of Schools Richard Labbe, who is the high school’s interim principal. “We’ve been at the high together now for about five months and in those five months, we’ve had to deal with some emergencies. While I’m flipping out and being told to be calm, Denise and [fellow nurse Ginny Kania] are very meticulous, really calculated and composed. I don’t think there’s anything that can ruffle their feathers.
“The next word I can think of when it comes to Denise is consummate,” he continued. “She is the consummate professional in everything that she does. The manner in which she works with our students. The manner in which she works with our staff. The amount of professionalism that Denise and Ginny display on an everyday basis is truly impressive and very inspiring to me.
“And then finally, caring. Denise and Ginny go home every day and they worry. And they not only worry about the students, they worry about the staff. They worry about everything. That’s what makes them the truly special people who I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world to have the opportunity to spend the last five months working with.”