District Teachers of the Year Applauded

For Dr. Robert O’Boyle, Hopewell Valley Central High School’s veteran art teacher, winning Teacher of the Year has been a bit like déjà vu, since he got the district’s very first Governor’s Recognition Award 26 years ago.

“This one is extra special, and even better,” said Dr. O’Boyle, at a reception held for the district winners of the Governor’s Teacher/Educational Services Professional Recognition Program at a recent Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education meeting.

This week, the six teachers chosen for the award will be recognized at the Hopewell Valley Education Foundation’s (HVEF’s) E² Dinner on May 11 (for tickets and details, please see www.hvef.org).

2012 Hopewell Valley Regional School District Teachers of the Year; Left to Right front row: Amy Ciavaglia, Bear Tavern Elementary School; Nancy Greener, Timberlane Middle School; Jane-Elllen Lennon, Hopewell Elementary School. Back row: Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education President Lisa Wolff; Dr. Robert O'Boyle, Hopewell Valley Central High School; Marci Thomas, Stony Brook Elementary School; Georgine Johnson, Toll Gate Grammar School; Dr. Thomas Smith, Superintendent of Schools.

“It’s like reliving a long history of teaching,” mused Dr. O’Boyle, noting that he’d gotten 168 congratulatory e-mails from former students and colleagues and even learned that a student had given his child the middle name of “Robert” in honor of him.

“It is really a great affirmation, a feeling that you made the right decision to stick with it,” said Dr. O’Boyle, who teaches advanced art classes.

The other five staff winners made similar comments.

“I was blown away, it’s been an amazing experience,” said fifth grade teacher Amy Ciavaglia, Bear Tavern Elementary’s winner of the award and a fifth-grade teacher. “I’m surrounded by such great teachers and so many people who deserve (such an award). People have come forward and said such nice things to me. It has been wonderful.”

“I feel like I’m only as good as the people around me,” said Hopewell Elementary winner Jane-Ellen Lennon, who teaches exceptionally-able, advanced level reading and basic skills math. “The kids I work with are so great. They make it such a treat to come to work everyday, I really look forward to it.”

“Students here are a pleasure to teach, they are highly motivated,” said science teacher Nancy Greener, Timberlane Middle School’s winner. “And my colleagues here are just amazing. They are true friends.”

“I’m excited and flattered,” said Georgine Johnson, Toll Gate Grammar School’s winner and a special education teacher. “It’s such an honor to be recognized by your colleagues. I really appreciate it.”

Marci Thomas, media specialist and librarian, was this year’s winner at Stony Brook Elementary School. “I’m thrilled, I went to school in this district. I was so surprised when they said my name,” said Thomas, who was preparing to make a technology presentation to her colleagues when they started clapping. She was pleasantly surprised, when she looked up from preparations, to find she’d just been announced an award winner.

In handing out the commendations, Assistant Superintendent Richard Lang said the competition was stiff, with more than 136 staff, parents and students nominating 75 teachers and other school professionals.

“You really are the best of the best,” he told the six winners of the district’s highest honor.