History of the District
The Montville Township community, consisting of Montville, Pine Brook and Towaco, NJ, was founded in 1867.
Working with the Montville Township Historical Society, Montville Township Public Schools is gathering information and images that reflect the educational commitment, and the far-reaching history of that commitment, in the Montville Township community.
This page, "The History of the District," is where MTPS is posting historical details as they are rediscovered. Please check back regularly as we hope to update this page often.
#EducateInspireEmpower - Montville Township Public Schools.
Etta Konner - Award-Winning Teacher
Born: December 10th 1898.
Maiden Name: Etta Fischer. Married: Abraham Konner.
Etta Konner was a Montville Township resident who left a lasting legacy.
Etta was married to Abraham Konner, whose family also had a deep-rooted history in Montville. Abraham's parents, Lena and Josef Konner, were the first Jewish family in Montville, having emigrated from Austria to New York City in 1881. After finding work in NYC and Newark, they moved to Pine Brook, where they purchased the Vreeland Farm. Besides managing the Sunrise Hotel business, they were the parents of a large family and founders of the first synagogue in town.
After marrying, Etta relocated to Pine Brook in 1920, beginning her teaching career at the Pine Brook School. When she started teaching, the school had only 13 students ranging from 1st to 8th grade. Despite the small student body, Etta dedicated herself to providing the best education possible.
In the book, "Freedom, plus Responsibility Equal a Happy, Co-operative School," Etta expressed her teaching philosophy: "The Teaching of the Three R’s has always been the principal job of the school. In the modern school, teachers continue to develop reading, writing, and arithmetic skills, but children learn these skills in connection with other activities and under conditions that make them enjoy what they are doing."
Guided by this philosophy, she taught over 1,400 students in 45 years and earned the National Recognition award from Parents Magazine in 1959. The following year, 1960, she won the Teacher of the Year title from the NJ Elementary Classroom Teachers Association.
Nicholas De Vita, the former Montville Township superintendent, said she was "the most dedicated, competent, and farsighted teacher ever known."
Upon her retirement in 1964, the Board of Education took steps to immortalize her contributions. Sponsored by former board president James Hile, the school was unanimously renamed "The Etta E. Konner Elementary School" in 1965. Additionally, when the township decided to develop 2.5 acres for a playground, they aptly named it the Etta Konner Playground.
Information and photos provided by Montville Historical Society