JFK Teacher and Educational Services Professional of the Years are honored at ceremony

The pride of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District was honored at the Staff Recognition Reception on Tuesday, May 2.

The highly popular ceremony, which drew over 150 administrators, board of education members, staff and teachers as well as families from the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, was held at the Somerville Elks Lodge.

The event was held to honor the 2022-2023 Governor’s Teachers of the Year and the Governor’s Educational Services Professionals for all 11 schools in the school district.

A total of 22 staffers—two from each school–were honored for their achievements and passion as members of the school district.

The ceremony was funded by the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association (BREA) and was held for the first time at the Elks Lodge after the previous ceremonies were performed at Bridgewater-Raritan High School cafeteria.

Superintendent Bob Beers opened the festivities with his usual upbeat remarks.

“It is our great pleasure to honor the dedication to your craft that you do every day,” Superintendent Beers announced. “Thank you for the dedication and impact that you have on our children.”

He continued.

“Teaching is a lifestyle and you do need the support of your family. We thank your families for that support.”

Laura Kress, the President of the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association, followed Superintendent Beers to greet the award winners and the audience.

“This ceremony is our (BREA) most pleasurable event,” Ms. Kress revealed. “Thank you to Suzanne (Klos) for putting this on.”

Ms. Klos’ title is Executive Secretary to the Superintendent but she is arguably one of the school district’s most valuable staff members.

She coordinated the ceremony and the new venue for the 2023 reception was well received by all.

Ms. Kress, a Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School Teacher, praised her peers.

“I look at our primary school teachers and what a miracle that they do to teach our kids to read. It is amazing and we teach more than the curriculum. We teach how to forgive and how to have compassion. Life’s lessons help us all grow,” she explained. “We learn from our students and you all play a key role.”

Ms. Kress added:

“You all are the best of the best.”

Each of the 11 school principals introduced their Teacher of the Year and their Educational Services Professionals of the Year.

Members of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District Board of Education assisted with the presentation of gifts to the recipients.

 Principal Matt Lembo of the Milltown Primary School could not attend the affair but he was substituted at the podium by Dr. Dan Fonder, the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel, who introduced the two recipients from that school.

Here are the profiles of the JFK Primary School Teacher of the Year, Robert Cirino, and Educational Services Professional of the Year, Linda O’Brien.

Robert Cirino

John F. Kennedy Primary School
Health and Physical Education Teacher

 John F. Kennedy Primary School is proud to introduce Robert Cirino as the 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year. Mr. Cirino has spent the past seven years at John F. Kennedy Primary School and has been a teacher in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District for the past 15 years. Mr. Cirino is loved by his students because he gets to know each one and develops a great rapport with them. It is evident Mr. Cirino cares about all his students.

Mr. Cirino has a high level of enthusiasm that is palpable. He greets each student as they walk into the gym and makes sure they are all involved and engaged in activities. He is a kind and helpful colleague and always has something positive to say. On top of all this, Mr. Cirino has an incredible sense of humor that is contagious to anyone who comes in contact with him.

Mr. Cirino not only implements activities for PE, but he also spearheads school-wide events and activities. Students love his Halloween costumes and his school spirit.

Robert Cirino is an asset to John F. Kennedy School and the community. He is a team player who has the students’ best interest at heart. He is well deserving of the Teacher of the Year award.

Mr. Cirino states, “My experience as a student in the Bridgewater-Raritan School District made me want to be an educator. I wanted to give back to the district that gave me so much.”

 

Linda O’Brien

John F. Kennedy Primary School
Intervention Specialist

Linda O’Brien has been an Intervention Specialist in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District for the past 23 years. Mrs. O’Brien began her career at Eisenhower and Van Holten Schools before spending the last 18 years at John F. Kennedy Primary School.

Mrs. O’Brien finds ways to meet the needs of all her students and finds fun and engaging ways for children to learn. Mrs. O’Brien has an innate ability to assure all her students work to their full potential. Mrs. O’Brien is a valuable member of the JFK team and many of her colleagues look to her for guidance.

Mrs. O’Brien is an active member of the JFK staff. She volunteers for BREA events as well as school-wide events and activities. She has helped organize and run literacy nights and has also been instrumental in helping to coordinate the Backpack Program through the Somerset County Food Bank. She also works closely with JFK’s Giving Tree committee to help less fortunate families.

Mrs. Linda O’Brien is an excellent choice for the Educational Services Professional of the Year. 

 

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 EDUCATOR 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

Below is a link that contains the Staff Recognition Reception program, which includes the bios on all 22 award winners, 

2022-2023 Staff Recognition Award Booklet