Warren Schools Celebrate Teachers' Excellence

The Warren Township Board of Education recognized the members of each schools' staff who exemplified 'Excellence in Education" at the June 13 meeting.

With introductions by the schools principals, the honorees were middle school Spanish teacher Mary Pat Forenza, ALT's library media specialist Susan Jackson, Mt. Horeb School nurse Doris Zanchelli, Central School fourth-grade teacher Megan Harvey and Christina (Beekman) Brink, kindergarten teacher at Woodland School.

"It is indeed quite an honor to be selected by your peers and we are all quite impressed and appreciative of the hard work they put in to the education of our students," Superintendent of Schools Tami Crader said.

The principals took turns honoring the staff members, noting the accomplishments or aspects of their job performance which brought them to the attention of the others in their schools.

Middle school Principal Robert Comba said he had been "running around"  in search of anecdotes about Forenza when he came across a student note, thanking the "muy bonita" teacher for her inspiration.

Central School Principal Mary Lou Cebula noted Harvey's thorough lesson plans and preparedness, while ALT Principal Kathryn Bond said Jackson "not only opens the minds, but also the hearts of our students."

Mt. Horeb Principal Michael Kimmick said that while the school nurse position is usually "operating behind the scenes," Zanchelli follows up on parents' concerns about students regularly.

And Woodland Principal Christopher Huss, who referred to his kindergarten teacher as as "Miss Beekman/Mrs. Brink" in recognition of her recent marriage, praised her dedication to her job.

"When I first met her, I wondered what kind of crazy person works in July with 5-year olds all day long?" he said of her stint teaching incoming and outgoing kindergartners in need of remedial instruction in the summer. "What Ive come to learn is that that epitomizes the kind of person 'Miss Beekman' is." 

The teachers were presented with plaques noting the accomplishment.