Eisenhower Teacher and Educational Services Professional honored

The pride of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District was honored at the Staff Recognition Reception on Tuesday, May 2.

The highly popular ceremony, which drew over 150 administrators, board of education members, staff and teachers as well as families from the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, was held at the Somerville Elks Lodge.

The event was held to honor the 2022-2023 Governor’s Teachers of the Year and the Governor’s Educational Services Professionals for all 11 schools in the school district.

A total of 22 staffers—two from each school–were honored for their achievements and passion as members of the school district.

The ceremony was funded by the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association (BREA) and was held for the first time at the Elks Lodge after the previous ceremonies were performed at Bridgewater-Raritan High School cafeteria.

Superintendent Bob Beers opened the festivities with his usual upbeat remarks.

“It is our great pleasure to honor the dedication to your craft that you do every day,” Superintendent Beers announced. “Thank you for the dedication and impact that you have on our children.”

He continued.

“Teaching is a lifestyle and you do need the support of your family. We thank your families for that support.”

Laura Kress, the President of the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association, followed Superintendent Beers to greet the award winners and the audience.

“This ceremony is our (BREA) most pleasurable event,” Ms. Kress revealed. “Thank you to Suzanne (Klos) for putting this on.”

Ms. Klos’ title is Executive Secretary to the Superintendent but she is arguably one of the school district’s most valuable staff members.

She coordinated the ceremony and the new venue for the 2023 reception was well received by all.

Ms. Kress, a Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School Teacher, praised her peers.

“I look at our primary school teachers and what a miracle that they do to teach our kids to read. It is amazing and we teach more than the curriculum. We teach how to forgive and how to have compassion. Life’s lessons help us all grow,” she explained. “We learn from our students and you all play a key role.”

Ms. Kress added:

“You all are the best of the best.”

Each of the 11 school principals introduced their Teacher of the Year and their Educational Services Professionals of the Year.

Members of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District Board of Education assisted with the presentation of gifts to the recipients.

 Principal Matt Lembo of the Milltown Primary School could not attend the affair but he was substituted at the podium by Dr. Dan Fonder, the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel, who introduced the two recipients from that school.

Here are the profiles of the Eisenhower Intermediate School Teacher of the Year, Deborah Ronning, and the Educational Service Professional of the year, Alice Piscadlo.

 

Deborah Ronning

Eisenhower Intermediate School
Grade 5 TeacherMrs. Deborah Ronning is a fifth grade teacher who has excelled in all of her professional responsibilities with style and class at Eisenhower Intermediate School. Deb is a true role model for her students. She makes learning enjoyable and meaningful and has her students’ best interests at heart.  The classroom environment that she has created is one of the best at IKE. Mrs. Ronning has a wonderful natural rapport with her students and is the model for mutual respect. Deb has an enthusiasm for teaching, a love of children, and is a highly-respected and admired educator.

Mrs. Ronning has the core qualities of kindness, optimism, enthusiasm, and dedication that shine through all of her professional responsibilities. Deb is a professional educator who cares about students.  She is someone who spends quality time preparing for her daily lessons and responsibilities so her students are most successful.

Deb is a passionate, positive, and dedicated teacher who strives for her students to be most successful in language arts class.  She is enthusiastic for teaching and constantly reflects on her teaching methods to make sure she meets the needs of all of her students. Mrs. Ronning is passionate about language arts instruction and her students enjoy reading and writing and excel in both. She makes literature relatable and meaningful, and in turn, her students enjoy language arts classes.

Deb attends many extra-curricular events to support our school and has been the co-advisor of our student council for over 15 years. The initiatives, activities and events that she has organized have positively influenced our students and families, local and state organizations, and individuals around the world through fundraising and charitable events. She is motivated to make learning fun, experiential, and meaningful as a teacher and as an advisor. She is always first to lend a helping hand and go the extra mile for our students and for our school. She is always positive, kind, caring, and has much to offer with her professional knowledge and sound personal input.

The Eisenhower family is proud to have Deborah Ronning as their Governor’s Teacher of the Year.

Alice Piscadlo

Eisenhower Intermediate School
School Counselor

Alice Piscadlo is an excellent intermediate school counselor who has a passion for students and their academic success and well-being. She radiates enthusiasm and  joy for the success of each of her students and that perspective has a positive effect on everyone around her.  She approaches each student with love and understanding, patience and guidance, and an enthusiasm for learning.  She continually seeks out new strategies and techniques that will enhance her counseling effectiveness. She is the first one to lend a helping hand to a family in need and has organized many altruistic endeavors to help our students and other community causes. It is a pleasure and honor for our staff to work with such a dedicated and inspirational counselor. She has their utmost respect and admiration, and we are grateful for her commitment to the students of Eisenhower Intermediate School.

Alice has demonstrated a genuine commitment to the students of Eisenhower School and a willingness to function as a cooperative and collaborative team player. She approaches her position with tireless energy and enthusiasm and has effectively integrated herself into the Eisenhower School community while meeting the many and varied challenges of her position.

As Eisenhower’s HIB Specialist, Alice has done an excellent job in the prevention and education of our students and staff so they can be positive citizens of our school. She provides her students with a safe, risk-taking environment, helping each student to develop a sense of personal growth and esteem. Mrs. Piscadlo’s work is greatly appreciated, and she positively impacts the climate and culture of our school.

We are proud that Alice is Eisenhower School’s Educational Services Professional of the Year.

Here are our award winners from each of the 11 schools in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District. Their teaching/staff position is listed after their name.

GOVERNOR’S EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR 2022-2023

ADAMSVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Meghan De La Rosa, English as a Second Language

 

BRADLEY GARDENS PRIMARY SCHOOL

Kathryn Kaye, Special Education Teacher

 

CRIM PRIMARY SCHOOL

Abigail Goldstein, Grade 2 Teacher

 

HAMILTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

Tammy Miller, Grade 4 Teacher

 

JOHN F. KENNEDY PRIMARY SCHOOL

Robert Cirino, Health and Physical Education Teacher

 

MILLTOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL

Danielle Caulfied, Grade 1 Teacher

VAN HOLTEN PRIMARY SCHOOL

Matthew Swinsburg, Grade 3 Teacher

 

EISENHOWER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

Deborah Ronning, Grade 5 Teacher

 

HILLSIDE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

Carmelina Geiger, Grade 5 Teacher

 

BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Sarah Martin, English/Language Arts Teacher

 

BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL

James Olivola, Teacher of Mathematics

 

GOVERNOR’S EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PROFESSIONAL AWARD FOR 2022-2023

ADAMSVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Maryellen Filep, Learning Disabilities Teaching Consultant

 

BRADLEY GARDENS PRIMARY SCHOOL

Katherine Rayburn, Media Specialist

 

CRIM PRIMARY SCHOOL

Gretchen English, School Nurse

 

HAMILTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

Sharon Fargo, Speech Language Specialist

 

JOHN F. KENNEDY PRIMARY SCHOOL

Linda O’Brien, Intervention Specialist

 

MILLTOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL

Theresa Torraca-Sheats, Instructional Specialist

 

VAN HOLTEN PRIMARY SCHOOL

Shawn Danus, Intervention Specialist

 

EISENHOWER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

Alice Piscadlo, School Counselor

 

HILLSIDE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

Kinjal Barad, Instructional Assistant

 

BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Kelley Beahan, Learning Disabilities Teaching Consultant

 

BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL

Erin Lowman, School Psychologist

Below is a link that contains the Staff Recognition Reception program, which includes the bios on all 22 award winners, 

2022-2023 Staff Recognition Award Booklet