Pictured: Back Row: Christopher Connolly (MTHS Princeton University Distinguished Secondary School Teacher), Melissa Epstein (Woodmont Teacher of the Year), Maria Heyburn (Lazar Teacher of the Year), Lisa Shapiro (MTHS Educational Services Professional), Tracie Hanzl (Hilldale Teacher of the Year), Debra Mancino (Hilldale Educational Services Professional), Maria Millan (William Mason Educational Services Professional), and Olesya Dubreuil (Woodmont Educational Services Professional). Front Row: Randi Bsales (Valley View Educational Services Professional) Sandra Faranda (Valley View Teacher of the Year), Laura Rivera (MTHS Teacher of the Year), Kayse Daniel (Cedar Hill Teacher of the Year), Clarissa Shell (William Mason Teacher of the Year), and Elizabeth Weinberg (Cedar Hill Educational Services Professional).
Dr. David Modrak, President of the Montville Township Public Schools Board of Education [BOE] presented certificates of recognition to fifteen distinguished educators during the January 21, 2025, BOE Meeting. The award winners were selected by their peers in each of Montville Township Public Schools' [MTPS] seven school buildings.
Educators were selected in three categories: Teacher of the Year, Educational Services Professionals of the Year, and, at Montville Township High School [MTHS], a teacher was also named a Princeton University Distinguished Secondary School Teacher.
Seven Teachers of the Year, along with seven Educational Services Professionals of the Year, and one Princeton University Distinguished Secondary School Teacher, received certificates of recognition.
The2024-2025 Teachers of the Year from Montville Township are: Kayse Daniel (Cedar Hill), Tracie Hanzl (Hilldale), Sandra Faranda (Valley View ), Clarissa Shell (William Mason), Melissa Epstein (Woodmont), Maria Heyburn (Lazar), and Laura Rivera (MTHS).
The 2024-2025 Educational Services Professionals of the Year from Montville Township are: Elizabeth Weinberg (Cedar Hill), Debra Mancino (Hilldale), Randi Bsales (Valley View), Maria Millan (William Mason), Olesya Dubreuil (Woodmont), Karen Vacca (Lazar), and Lisa Shapiro (MTHS). Vacca, who was unable to attend the ceremony, received her certificate later that week.
Applications for each district Teacher of the Year and Educational Services Professional of the Year were forwarded to Morris County for consideration as the County Educators of the Year. The seven Montville Township Public Schools [MTPS] educators in each of the two categories competes against educators from Morris County’s more than three dozen districts. The Teacher of the Year who is named Morris County Teacher of the Year will then be considered for the New Jersey Governor’s Teacher of the Year.
Since 2015, two MTPS teachers have been selected as Morris County Teacher of the Year: MTHS Holocaust and Genocide teacher Christopher Butchko, from 2019-2020, and, Robert R. Lazar Middle School [Lazar] 7th grade Science teacher Cheryl Zanone, from 2015-2016.
The 2024-2025 Princeton University Distinguished Secondary School Teaching Award was presented to: MTHS Business teacher Christopher Connolly. After a 33-year career at Prudential, Connolly joined the MTHS Business Education Department in 2018.
Across the state of New Jersey, recipients of the Princeton University Distinguished Secondary School Teacher awards in each district are considered for participation in the Ivy League school’s spring graduation ceremony. Connolly is currently being considered to participate in the 2025 Princeton graduation ceremony.
In 2018 MTHS English Teacher Mary Gormley received that state-wide honor.
“The recognition that these educators have received this evening is well deserved,” said Superintendent Dr. Thomas A. Gorman. “I am very proud of their work and their commitment to the students of Montville Township Public Schools. These educators are part of what makes the Montville Township district an outstanding district. These teachers are all leaders in their buildings and throughout the entire district. They support both students and their peers. We are grateful for their innovation and their dedication.”
Following the awards ceremony, the award-winning teachers posed for a group photo in front of the district’s branded step and repeat. The photo can be viewed in the gallery on www.montville.net. Pictured in the photo are: Back Row: Christopher Connolly (MTHS Princeton University Distinguished Secondary School Teacher), Melissa Epstein (Woodmont Teacher of the Year), Maria Heyburn (Lazar Teacher of the Year), Lisa Shapiro (MTHS Educational Services Professional), Tracie Hanzl (Hilldale Teacher of the Year), Debra Mancino (Hilldale Educational Services Professional), Maria Millan (William Mason Educational Services Professional), and Olesya Dubreuil (Woodmont Educational Services Professional). Front Row: Randi Bsales (Valley View Educational Services Professional) Sandra Faranda (Valley View Teacher of the Year), Laura Rivera (MTHS Teacher of the Year), Kayse Daniel (Cedar Hill Teacher of the Year), Clarissa Shell (William Mason Teacher of the Year), and Elizabeth Weinberg (Cedar Hill Educational Services Professional).
The full ceremony and recognition of each of the 2024-2025 MTPS Educators of the Year can be viewed at the Montville Township Public Schools YouTube Channel. With the exception of the MTHS teachers, each educator was introduced to the BOE by their building principal. Dr. Sandra Schwartz, the district’s K-12 Supervisor of Science, Mathematics, and Business, introduced the three educators from MTHS.
Montville Township Public Schools is comprised of five elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. The pre-K to grade 12 district supports more than 3,500 students.