School district staff members are honored for Governor awards at board of education meeting

Twenty-two staff members—two from each school–were recognized as the recipients of the Governor’s Educator of Year Award and Governor’s Educational Services Award for 2022-2023 by the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District Board of Education on Tuesday, January 24.

The honored guests, who were joined by families and colleagues in the Bridgewater-Raritan High School media center, were honored for their achievements during the Board of Education’s regular meeting.

Superintendent Bob Beers and Board of Education President Steven Singer announced the names of the award winners and presented each a certificate. Board President Singer also read the official Board of Education Proclamation that announced their achievements.

“These staff members go above and beyond their duties,” Superintendent Beers declared. “They have earned the respect of our students, fellow teachers and staff members and the entire community.”

Board President Singer reported that a formal ceremony to celebrate these recipients will be held in May at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.

Here are our award winners from each of the 11 schools in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District. Their teaching/staff position is listed after their name.

Governor’s Education of the Year Award for 2022-2023

Adamsville Primary School

Meghan De La Rosa, English as a Second Language

 

Bradley Gardens Primary School

Kathryn Kaye, Special Education Teacher

 

Crim Primary School

Abigail Goldstein, Grade 2 Teacher

 

Hamilton Primary School

Tammy Miller, Grade 4 Teacher

 

John F. Kennedy Primary School

Robert Cirino, Health and Physical Education Teacher

 

Milltown Primary School

Danielle Caulfied, Grade 1 Teacher

 

Van Holten Primary School

Matthew Swinsburg, Grade 3 Teacher

 

Eisenhower Intermediate School

Deborah Ronning, Grade 5 Teacher

 

Hillside Intermediate School

Carmelina Geiger, Grade 5 Teacher

 

Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School

Sarah Martin, English/Language Arts Teacher

 

Bridgewater-Raritan High School

James Olivola, Teacher of Mathematics

 

Governor’s Educational Services Professional Award for 2022-2023

 

Adamsville Primary School

Maryellen Filep, Learning Disabilities Teaching Consultant

 

Bradley Gardens Primary School

Katherine Rayburn, Media Specialist

 

Crim Primary School

Gretchen English, School Nurse

 

Hamilton Primary School

Sharon Fargo, Speech Language Specialist

 

John F. Kennedy Primary School

Linda O’Brien, Intervention Specialist

 

Milltown Primary School

Theresa Torraca-Sheats, Instructional Specialist

 

Van Holten Primary School

Shawn Danus, Intervention Specialist

 

Eisenhower Intermediate School

Alice Piscadlo, School Counselor

 

Hillside Intermediate School

Kinjal Barad, Instructional Assistant

 

Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School

Kelley Beahan, Learning Disabilities Teaching Consultant

 

Bridgewater-Raritan High School

Erin Lowman, School Psychologist

 

In other business at the meeting, the Board of Education announced the appointment of Matthew McCarthy as the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District Supervisor of Fine and Performing Arts.

He will replace Dr. Laura Bassett, who will move on to become the Principal of the Eisenhower Intermediate School on February 1.

Dr. Bassett will replace Joe Diskin, who will retire on January 31 after he served 23 years as the Principal at Eisenhower. Principal Diskin will start his new career as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools in the Diocese of Metuchen on February 1.

Mr. McCarthy  is expected to begin his new position in Bridgewater-Raritan on March 27. He will finish out his role as a Teacher of Arts in the East Brunswick Public Schools where he has taught for 16 years.

Mr. McCarthy received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and then earned his Masters in Fine Arts Education at Kean University. He is presently working on a Masters degree in Education Administration at Rowan University, which he expects to receive in May.

“I am super excited to be here and to continue the excellence of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District,” Mr. McCarthy said.

He resides in West Long Branch with his wife and three children.

The high school representatives to the Board of Education, seniors Anna Buckridge, Nandeenee Singh and Shaunak Gaiki, presented their regular report.

They announced that the High School Student Advisory Committee, which contains three students from each grade, has been officially formed. The three representatives had been working on creating this committee that just came to fruition.

This committee will discuss issues and concerns at the high school that the three representatives can then present to the Board of Education.

Among some items that they touched on during the meeting were the Rotating Block Schedule has gained its seal of approval from the students and a request to hear more information about Referendum 2023 that will go to the voters on March 14.

Superintendent Beers responded that the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District website publishes numerous information, including a separate page and various stories, and the social media platforms provide regular updates regarding the Referendum 2023. 

 

Click HERE for information on BRRSD Referendum 2023