On January 23, 2024 the Montville Township Public Schools Board of Education recognized the district’s 15 outstanding educators of the year for the 2023-2024 academic school year. The BOE meeting was held in the Media Center at Montville Township High School.
Principals from each of the district’s seven schools introduced the honorees to the members of the Montville Township BOE. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Gorman and BOE President Dr. David Modrak presented each honoree with a certificate.
The elementary, middle, and high school educators who received the recognitions were named in one of two categories: Teacher of the Year and Educational Services Professional of the Year. Additionally, MTHS also named a Princeton University Distinguished Secondary Teacher of the Year.
“It is exciting to have an opportunity to honor these outstanding educators,” Gorman said. “Each of tonight’s recipients is deserving of this award. Their dedication and passion for education has a positive impact on their students each and every day.”
There are seven schools in the Montville Township Public Schools district. This includes: five elementary schools, Cedar Hill, Hilldale, Valley View, William Mason, and Woodmont; one middle school, Robert R. Lazar; and one high school, Montville Township High School.
The following is a list of the 2023-2024 MTPS educators that were honored by the Montville BOE on January 23, 2024.
Teachers of the Year:
· Cedar Hill - Victoria Marchetta
· Hilldale - Stacey Hogan
· Valley View - Erin Sullivan
· William Mason - Donald Wheeler
· Woodmont - Lindsay DeGruttalo
· Lazar - - Karin Wardell
· MTHS - Jaclynn Hinz
Educational Services Professional of the Year:
· Cedar Hill - Tiffany Salvato
· Hilldale - Susan Bio
· Valley View - - Tammy McMahon
· William Mason - Olivia Maggiore
· Woodmont - Rose Issa
· Lazar - - Cathryn Alecci
· MTHS - Kathleen Sansone
Princeton University Distinguished Secondary Teacher of the Year:
· MTHS - Christy Choi
The honored educators were nominated by their peers. Within each school there is a committee that accepts nominations. From there, one educator at each school is selected to serve as Teacher of the Year and one is selected to serve as Educational Services Professional of the Year. At Montville Township High School one educator is also selected as the Princeton University Distinguished Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Each of the Teachers of the Year and Educational Services Professionals of the Year that are named at the district level are also submitted to the Morris County competitions. If an educator is named at the Morris County level, that individual is then reviewed on the state level and competes to be selected by the Governor as an outstanding educator.
In the past, Montville Township Public Schools has been home to two Morris County Teachers of the Year: Lazar Science Teacher Cheryl Zanone (2015-2016) and MTHS Social Studies Teacher Christopher Butchko (2020-2021).
According to the state.nj.us/education website, the Governor's Teacher of the Year and the Governor’s Educational Services Professional of the Year programs highlight educational innovation, student achievement, the rewards of teaching, and important services outside the classroom environment that lead to student success. These two recognitions “seek to attract public attention to the positive aspects of our educational system.”
Additionally, the Princeton University Distinguished Secondary School Teacher recognition affords the nominated teacher the opportunity to be consideration by Princeton University to be honored at the University’s spring commencement.
According to the teacherprep.princeton.edu website, “Each year since 1959, Princeton University has honored at its Commencement four outstanding New Jersey teachers from public and independent schools for their contributions to the lives of the state’s secondary school students and to their school communities.”
For 2017-2018, now retired MTHS teacher, Mary Gormley, who served as a Forensic Coach and English teacher, received this state-wide honor.
Video of the Montville Township BOE ceremony honoring the district’s 2023-2024 award-winning educators can be viewed on the Montville Township Public Schools YouTube Channel.
The MTPS honored educators have also been recognized by the students and staff at their individual schools, and the parent organizations at each school.