SAYREVILLE – Two elementary school teachers in the Sayreville School District have been named as New Jersey Elementary Educators of the Year for the 2018-19 school year.
Sayreville’s recipients are Barbara Coyle, a teacher at Samsel Upper Elementary School (SUES), and April Magistro, a teacher at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. Both were recognized at a Board of Education meeting last month.
Superintendent of Schools Richard Labbe credited supervisor Nina Obryk with writing an application with the elementary school principals for Coyle and Magistro to nominate them as Educators of the Year.
“It’s evident tonight what amazing educators we have in district and throughout the state,” Obryk said. “The Department of Education came up with this program so that everyone knew about it. When I reached out to the K-5 principals, they jumped on the opportunity. We sent in three nominations and two of our teachers won. I know them both and I’m very proud of them both.”
SUES Principal Stacey Coglianese said, “When you think of Barbara Coyle, she’s just magical. She has the grit to assist struggling learners become readers, she has a passion to assist her colleagues often and even led a faculty book club with her colleagues. She has a desire to continue to make herself and those around her better. She is the epitome of a professional, despite what is going on around her. Each and every day, she gives her best to her students, treating them as if they were her own children. She is one of the most caring and compassionate individuals that I know. Her love for teaching is infectious.
Speaking about Magistro, Wilson Principal Carmen Davis said, “April, there’s so much to say: Dedicated to the children; has very much a children-first perspective, no matter what the decision is; fair, outspoken, but very good teacher language; loyal to the principal, loyal to her colleagues, loyal to her students and especially loyal to her parents. I don’t know how you do all of that and still stay sane and have your hair, but you do a great job of it.
“A winner has that intrinsic motivation and when I leave, I want to see you take the baton and continue on,” Davis said. “I want to see what you look like in another five or 10 years. RTI Committee, Front Door, parent liaison, child advocate, team member of our safety team, SKIP Committee, mentor/teacher, friend, colleague and critical friend. Every principal needs a bunch of critical friends. She’s a very good critical friend. I think that it takes a village to make an outstanding school. Thank you for being a part of our village, April.”