The entire staff, nearly 600 employees, of the Montville Township Public Schools was welcomed back for the 2024-2025 school year on Thursday, August 29. Fifty-one educators were honored for their 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 50-years of consecutive service to the Montville Township Public Schools [MTPS]. The Years-of-Service Awards were presented during the early-morning Convocation that is the district’s tradition.
Combined, these 51 dedicated members of the MTPS faculty and staff represent 1,100-years of service to Montville Township Public Schools students and the Montville Township community-at-large.
Additionally, MTPS Board of Education Member [BOE] Charles A. Grau was recognized for 62-years of service to New Jersey Education, including 30-years as a member of the MTPS BOE.
Grau, a seasoned educator who began his teaching career in 1962 as a Math Teacher, presented the district’s 50-Years-of-Service Award to Toby Cohen.
Cohen, a Math Teacher at the district’s Robert R. Lazar Middle School, was a student of Grau’s during his first years of teaching.
By 1969 Grau had moved into School Administration and later Educational Consulting. He served as an elected volunteer on the MTPS BOE from 1979-1991 and again from 2006-present. Grau’s state-wide service, combined with the district’s 2024 award-winners, totals 1,162-years of educational service to public education.
MTPS educators who were honored at the Convocation include faculty and staff from each of the district’s seven schools and the Central Office (CO). The Years-of-Service Award-winners are listed below in order of appearance in their 2024-2025 Years-of-Service group photographs. A code for each school where the individuals work is listed next to each name:
50 Years – Toby Cohen (LZ)
30 Years – (l to r): Palmina Zurawlow (VV), Scott Riotto (MTHS), Bonnie DiCola (CH) with Robbie The Seeing Eye Puppy, Tracie Hanzl (HD).
25 Years – (l to r): John Krygier (WM), Eddy Pimienta (WD), Andrew Cecala (MTHS), Jennifer Kelly (WD), Erik Morrison (MTHS), Gabriella Caprio (VV), Trudy Coppola (CH), Ann Marie Treanor (WM), Anthony Varuolo (LZ).
20 Years – (Back or 4th Row l to r): Maria Millan (WM), Richard Ketay (VV), Yulia Rovny (VV), Danielle Stoveken (WD), Stephen Zingone (LZ), Michael Shera (LZ), Patrick Lyons (LZ), Matthew Myers (LZ), Derek Lynn (LZ), Jerald Wayne (LZ, (3rd Row) Roksana Perveen (WD), Margaret Beatty (WD), Jennifer McLaughlin (WM), Kelly Lang (LZ), Margaret Travers (MTHS), Helen Gizas (MTHS), Kristin Garibell (HD), Elizabeth Abruzzo (LZ), (2nd Row): Tina Janis (WD), Suzanne Schneiderman (VV), Cheryl Evans (MTHS), Lauren Boninfante (CH), (First Row): Erin Sullivan (VV), Laura Catalano (WD), Janice Shingledecker (WD), Kelly Ahlert (LZ).
15 Years-of-Service – (Back Row l to r): Jessica Becker (VV), Blanca Ciccone (MTHS), Diane Maggiore (CO), Tammy Koop (CO), Steven Toth (CO), Britany Bucci (HD) (Front Row): Kim Mooney (LZ), Kelly McCorkle (MTHS), Dana Heitmann (MTHS), Stefanie SanFilippo (MTHS)
During the Convocation, Superintendent Dr. Thomas Gorman thanked each of the teachers receiving 15, 20, 25, 30 and 50-Years-of-Service Awards. Each name was announced and each teacher received a Years-of-Service pin from Assistant Superintendent Dr. Casey Shorter and Executive Assistant to the Superintendent June Carle.
Gorman also thanked Grau for his 62-years of distinguished dedication to NJ education and the Montville Township community.
Grau will not be seeking reelection this year, but, with 58-years in the community, and grandchildren still in the district, he has said he will remain active.
This fall the MTPS district also recognized Winifred Wess of Woodmont. The dedicated elementary teacher received a 35-Years-of-Service Award.
At the Convocation, Bonnie DiCola, the Cedar Hill School Nurse who was recognized for 30-Years-of-Service, had with her The Seeing Eye puppy named Robbie. DiCola received an award over the summer from The Seeing Eye for having raised 21 The Seeing Eye puppies. Each of these dogs have received significant training at Cedar Hill Elementary School. Robbie was on-hand September 3, 2024, to welcome Cedar Hill students to the first day of school.
MTPS is a pre-k to grade 12 district consisting of five elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district’s schools include: Cedar Hill Elementary (CH), Hilldale Elementary (HD), Valley View Elementary (VV), William Mason Elementary (WM), Woodmont Elementary (WD), Robert R. Lazar Middle School (LZ), and Montville Township High School (MTHS).
Located in Morris County, New Jersey, MTPS welcomed nearly 3,490 students to the 2024-2025 academic year on Tuesday, September 3.