Well, that's true. I was on my phone the entire time trying to get tickets. Mr. M. Mr. Burkin and Mr. M here. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you for coming out tonight. It's nice to see so many people
here. I hope that all the teachers and staff felt honored and appreciated for their hard work and dedication to our district with teacher and staff appreciation month. Congratulations to all those that we are blessed to honor tonight. our teachers and ESPs of the year. Thank you to all the family and
friends who also came out to show their support this evening. May is mental health awareness month. Remember to take care of yourself. It's crazy time of year when school activities all start coming to a close and it's also national military appreciation month. I would like to give a special thank you to
Senior Master Sergeant Tar Taylor who's currently deployed and Lieutenant Commander John Holter who's here with us tonight and everyone else who serves or has served our country with some words from Naomi OA. It's okay to not be okay and it's okay
to talk about it. Have a good night and thank you for coming out. Good evening everyone. Good evening everyone. Much better now. I feel that Manchester spirit. Good evening and welcome. This
evening is an exceptionally great night in our Manchester Township School District as we have the privilege of congratulating and honoring the 2425 teachers of the year and educational professionals of the year.
Congratulations to all of you. [Applause] Before we hand it over to our military ambassador, I do want to go over a couple of things on our board agenda. You'll see that there is a retirement this
evening. Mr. Listister, is he with us this evening? Yes, he is. [Applause] 37 years in our
district. He is such a wonderful human being, such a kind-hearted man, and he has done a tremendous job for us in the athletic arena. Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement. I'm not sure that it's going to get approved tonight,
Mr. Listister. We'll see. Go for 40. Nice nice even number. Anyway, all the best, Mr. Listister. Thank you so much. I do also want to remind everyone we have a PTA meeting May 16th, 6:30.
And also, please just note that our graduations for the high school will be Friday, June 20th at 6:30. Our middle school will be that afternoon. And then we have school graduation June 6. Am I correct, Mrs. Macau? 10 a.m., right? We'll be
looking forward to that as well. This time, I'm going to ask for our military ambassador and our student government representative to come and speak and share some information with our audience. Good evening everybody. Um, it's been a busy month here for us. We you to foster
a strong relationship with um joint base. Um we started off well not our regional day school teacher of the year Ellie Highland got um hometown hero got to fly with the Thunderbirds um that was
last Friday. That was a great event attended by Mrs. Principal Um I was over on the other side with our students on a field trip that day. We brought a bunch of them over and the guys got to see her take off because I said to them, "She's in that aircraft on
how it's the only one going up this morning." So it was pretty cool getting to see her um take off and go on that um trip. Um on the 7th, the Joint Base also hosted Mrs. Pito's um transition class. Got to bring those students over there.
to get them to engage with our partners over there in aviation law enforcement. That was a great thing. Um, and this week, that was yesterday, we had our banner ceremony here. Um, I don't know if you can still see, it's not dark enough outside. As you come up the driveway, there are five
banners there. Um, very fitting that this is just for Memorial Day. Four banners for fallen hawks. here in Manchester Township High School on the turn in where the bus comes in. Um there's one for Julius who I believe
most of you should know was bus driver here very important and influential part of our school and local community for over 50 years. So his banner is actually up there where the buses turn in. So every day as bus comes by they're passing by and are saying hi to Mr.
Um and we'll close off our week here again fostering partnerships both and base. Um tomorrow we um have our parade of leaps over at the base. We'll be over at regional day school for memorial day
parade. On Saturday we have some flag planning over at Memorial Park and writing. Anyone's anyone's welcome to come every Saturday morning when there are some students playing flags on veterans graves. And on Monday, we'll end the Memorial Day weekend with the
parade out in Whiting at the Veterans Park. Good evening everyone. My name is Emily Johnson and I am the executive president at Manchester Township High School. I'm here today to provide you the board with important information about what has been going around our school. So, first
and foremost, the class of 2027 had intended to have an outdoor movie night last week, but unfortunately due to the rain, it did get cancelled. However, we should acknowledge their effort and planning for a wellorganized event. And there are rising juniors, so we have high hopes for what they're going to do
to get those profits down next year. And the class of 2025 hosted a real fundraiser just recently. And the class is also anticipating their prom next Thursday, hoping for nice weather. And after that pretty much just starts June and their senior week with Lucky
Leos and Park Day and Elementary and then the final stretch of graduation. So speak on behalf of seniors. We are all very excited. We're very sad graduation. I just want to say thank you for allowing me to speak and represent the MTHS student government. It's truly
honored. Thank you and have a good night. Thank you so much, Emily. Apparently, I don't know the date because I announced the PTA meeting in May, but that's already passed. So, please mark your calendars for June
11th. The PTA meeting will be June 11th at 6:30 at MTEES. I'm gonna So, we're going to begin our festivities this evening congratulating the students from our freshman seminar. I believe
Mrs. Peturzo, their teacher, is here. Am I correct? Come on up, Mrs. Purzo. And we would like to recognize four Manchester Township High School students that are part of this wonderful class, the freshman seminar. I believe I saw
Jesse, Cole, Lorenzo, and Santiago. Are they all here? Okay. So, Jesse, can you guys come up? Can all of you come up? And I believe Cole is on FaceTime. Okay, nice. Turn your camera on, would
you? Okay, let's give him Hi, Santiago. Let's give him a nice round of applause. So, these students were awarded second place in the Ocean County Health Department's annual public health awareness competition. The con the contest open to
students from all grades who live in Ocean County and they garnered hundreds of submissions but only the MTHS students submitted a creative short film and they re received second place. I did link in the presentation the short film.
It will be online. I really suggest that you take a look at it. It is outstanding. It is such a tremendous job and such an accomplishment and we're so proud of all of you. Congratulations. So, we'll continue our celebration with
the 2425 teachers and ESP professionals of the year. And these exceptional educators were chosen by their colleagues for their hard work and their dedication to their profession and the students of Manchester. They live out our district motto, excellence by
example every day through the way they teach and care for our students and the school community. Obviously, we know it takes a village to educate children and we are so pleased that these p these wonderful educators were selected by
their peers. So, we're going to make sure that we know greatness does not fly under the radar. Am I right, Mrs. Highland? We soar high. Not high as you, but we do soar high. I prefer my feet on the grounds, but congratulations to you
last week. So, we're going to ask at this time if the Manchester Township High School principal, Mr. Adams, would kindly come [Applause]
up and he's going to introduce the first teacher of the year and ESP of the year, Spring High School. Thank you. Good evening everyone. Good evening. Yes, there's Manchester Spear today and say it again. Good
evening everybody. Good evening. Yes. Okay. Uh, teacher of the year, Brie McCieran, come on up. Brian is an exceptional educator who has dedicated 17 years of her 22-year career
to the Manchester Township High School, exemplifying the qualities of an outstanding teacher of the year candidate. Her creativity, intelligence, and passion for teaching have made her have made a significant impact on both students and the school community. One
of Brianna's most notable achievements is the creation of the structured learning experience internship program. This innovative initiative provides students with real world experience in their prospective career field, demonstrating Brianna's commitment to
preparing students for future success. Her ability to garner community support for this program showcases her exceptional leadership and collaboration skills. Congratulations to you. Welld deserved. We love you. Let's give her a hand.
[Applause] Good evening everyone. Good evening. Good job. Just her spirit. Um, I'm not thrilled about going first because I like to go second so I can compare myself to the first person,
but I got this. Um, this may be an unconventional way to your address, but it may surprise you to learn that I said throughout high school and college that I would never be a teacher. Yet, here we are. I have worked in four different
buildings within Manchester in different roles since late 2005. This is my 17th straight year as a proud member of the health and physical education department here at Manchester Township High School. And the other half of my schedule now is the structured learning
experience class, which an absolutely wonderful experience. I believe the secret to teacher success lies in being willing to say yes to new challenges and to always have the best interest of the students at heart. When you are trying to do right by the students, you can't
go wrong. Once I had my own daughters, my mantra became, I will be the kind of teacher that I hope my daughters will have. I have loved being part of the Manchester community. I have capitalized on opportunities that have been afforded to me for growth as a professional. I
appreciate the administrators who have supported my growth and who have nurtured my soul through tough times both at work and at home. And of course, I am but one of a huge network of teachers who I respect on a daily basis. I want to acknowledge by name the admin
that's here that I noticed. And if I don't say you and you're here, I'm sorry, but um Mr. George was my first principal here when I started. first year as well. Um, Mrs. Roondo and Mrs. Tico who have moved up and spread their wings as hawks as like our students do.
Um, my principal, Mr. Adams, Mr. Listister, who we're very sorry to see go, but as I told him, he's earned it and deserves a wonderful retirement. Mr. Saratelli, who's here, Mrs. Swain, who are both our our assistants here now. And then Mrs. Mallis, who I worked with
at regional day in the summer. I I noticed that you were here Anybody? I'm sorry. Um, congratulations to the ESPs of the year and the teachers from the other buildings in this gem of a district. Earning teacher of the year has made me feel valued and seen and I
plan to live up to the honor and years to come. The ESP of the year, Clarice Capala. Come on up, Miss [Applause]
P. Congratulations. It is with great pleasure that we recognize Clarice as an educational service professional of the year. She has a warm personality and uses her wealth of knowledge to connect with her students in all aspects as a counselor.
She is solution focused and an excellent communicator to students and families. One of Miss Kapala's most significant contributions to MTHS is the creation of the Zen. Uh is a space designed to provide
emotional support for our students. Miss Capala goes above and beyond to provide a safe environment for all students while advocating for their needs. She has been an amazing addition to the Hawk family and a strong support for our students. Congratulations. We're proud
of you. Hello everybody. Hello. Hello. So, I'm not much of a public speaking. I am a social worker, not a teacher. So, please bear with me. It's a very tough act to follow. Um, but I'm incredibly honored and humbled to be here tonight
as one of Manchester's educational service professional recipients. As a social worker, much of the of my role takes place behind the scenes empowering and supporting our students. I believe in the potential of every student who awards. I believe they can be excellent.
As said, to be recogned this way. shows me that the impact you make, even when it's not visible, is felt. I want to thank the high school administration, both old and new, my colleagues, and everyone who makes Manchester a safe, welcoming place for our students. I work alongside some of some of the most
dedicated, compassionate, and patient people. Your encouragement and guidance is not something I take for granted. From my first day, I was made to feel a valued member of an amazing community. To our students, thank you for trusting me with your stories, struggles, and
visiting me for the occasional snack. You are the reason I'm here. You inspire me with your courage and resilience. I want to thank my husband, Jesse, for his unwavering support and encouragement. My son, Ellis, who is here tonight, who reminds me daily why this work matters.
Even the quietest effort can create meaningful change. I'm proud to be a part of a team and community that puts students first, and I look forward to continuing our work to ensure every student feels safe. welcome here. Thank you. Okay, next the famous Miss Driver from
Middle School. Come on up. Good evening and I would like to congratulate all of our ASP wives this evening and our teachers of the year. Um, my teacher of the year, I am very honored to recognize Robin Strucky.
Robin is a sixth grade ELA teacher, but you never know it because she helps each and every student in every grade level. It's thanks to Robin and her student council. She's our student council advisor. It is thanks to Robin and her
students that the middle school has their first 8th grade trip since before the pandemic. So, we are thrilled with that. And it was all her hard work and efforts. And she didn't stop there. She also is every teacher and staff member's
favorite because she does the coupon books. and coupon books are filled with jeans and workout wear coupons and everybody likes that. Um, and with the proceeds from that, she is allowing our eighth grade students to have Mr. Softy
at their eighth grade picnic. So, it is with great pride that I asked Robin to come up as our middle school teacher of the year. Hello. I was just saying I look so tan in that picture. Um, I was truly speechless when I was named teacher of the year. The
educators at the middle school are nothing short of incredible, and I am so proud to be part of such a remarkable team. When I first graduated from college, I wasn't even sure that I wanted to teach. But after raising my daughters and seeing the positive impact their amazing teachers had on them, I
realized that I wanted to be part of the same influence. I strive to create a classroom where students feel comfortable, supported, and inspired to grow. Building strong, meaningful relationships with my students has always been at the heart of my teaching philosophy. Through my role as student
council advisor and coach for both track and cross country, I've been fortunate to connect with even more incredible students. It's a joy to watch them outside of the classroom, seeing firsthand how they mature into outstanding young adults. I would like to thank Mrs. Pedrosa and the board of
education. And I would also like to give a special thank you to Mrs. Driver and Mrs. McLaclin for their continued support and always saying yes to all of my crazy ideas. So, thank you very [Applause]
much. Um, next I would like to introduce our educational professional of the year, Mrs. Tina Dateo. [Applause]
Misso is a par professional in our autism program. She goes above and beyond each and every day for every student. She actually today stood in the rain at the blue claws waiting for the rain delay to be over to find out they
canled the game. Um, everyone came back a little drenched, but they all came back with a smile because the children got to eat and were having a great time, even in the rain. Um, Mrs. D. Mateo came into the middle school over the summer because she and Miss Toric wanted to
change up the room and she volunteered her own time to come in and help. So, um, again, with great pride, I introduce Miss Tina Mateo. [Applause]
First, I want to thank my son Christopher, my daughter, and my Aurora, my daughter Erica, Derek, my son, [Music] Agan. Thank you.
Let's go, Mom. Next, I'd like to introduce Mrs. Ellen Healey um for NTES. [Applause] Hello everybody.
Okay. So, it is um our distinct honor to honor Miss Amy Vasquez. And I'm just going to give you a fun fact about Amy. Amy did not start as a teacher. For those of you who don't know, she was a scientific recruiter prior to going into teaching, right? Scientific recruiter.
Um Amy has spent time in all of our elementary schools. She was a student teacher at Ridgeway, moved to Whiting for many years, and in 2011 started Manchester Township Elementary School where she's remained ever since. We are very lucky to have her. She is a junior
impact advisor. She has done so many things in our districts with Kevin's kids um and the fourth grade and she's just a bright shining light at FTES. We are blessed to have her. So, come on up. Thank you. Good evening everyone.
Uh, good evening, Superintendent Pedroza, administrators, board of education members, colleagues, and community members. I'm incredibly honored and truly humbled to stand before you tonight as Manchester Township Elementary School's teacher of the year. Um, as Mrs. Healey mentioned,
I did not originally go to school to be a teacher. Um, and decided about years later to go back and, um, never looked back after that. It was the best decision that I ever made. Um, I have been fortunate to work in all three elementary schools over the past 20 plus
years and have met so many wonderful people and students. From my amazing cooperating teacher and mentor March Jennings to my first principal Marge Stevens must be something in the name who truly believed in me and helped me grow tremendously. to my other
administrators, Nikki and Jill, Linda, Ellen and Dave. Each of you have shaped me in some way, and I'm deeply grateful for the guidance, encouragement, and support I've received along the way. To my incredible colleagues, past and present, that I've worked with,
thank you for your support and inspiration, as well as the many laughs and pep talks we've shared. I've learned so much just by watching you. To my amazing family who's here tonight, my husband Caesar, my children Alexa and Justin, thank you for supporting me through the late nights, writing
marathons, endless yearbook projects, and so on. You've allowed me to give so much of myself to my career, and I couldn't do it without your love and patience. For the past 20 years, mostly in fourth grade, I've had the priv privilege of helping children learn and
grow. Like many other educators, teaching has never been just a job for me. It's a calling, a passion, a purpose, and I still love what I do today. There's nothing like the feeling of watching a child finally getting something they've been struggling with, or seeing them walk in each morning
excited to start the day, even if their shirt is on backwards and their homework is missing. Each year, I tell parents of back to school night that I'm fair but firm. I believe in structure, high expectations, and accountability. My students know I deeply about them, but
they also know I won't do the work for them. I want them to become independent, responsible, problemsolving individuals who will take ownership over their learning and their choices. In my classroom, be the best you can be isn't just a motto. It's a mindset we practice every day. I want to
thank my students for working hard each day, for persevering through the challenges, for cheering each other on and teaching me along the way, too. I truly appreciate this award. But it's not just about me. It's about the students who challenge me to be better, the colleagues who lift me up, and the
belief that every child deserves someone who sees the potential in them every single day. So, I want to thank you all for this honor and congratulations to all the other award winners as well. Have a good evening.
[Applause] Thank you, Miss Vasquez. Two years ago, a bubble of energy walked into an office to interview for a position at par as a par profofessional at Manchester Township Elementary School. From the day she's
walked in, Mr. Gonzalez wants to know, "What can I do? Who can I help?" If there's a kid without a coat, she'll get him a coat. If there's a kid without a snack, she finds him a snack. She has worked with our most challenging students. She has been their friend. She
has been a confidant at times. Um, Miss Gonzalez has been in many classrooms in two years, and we are truly lucky to have her. So, tonight it is m pleasure to Our educational service professional of the year, Miss Monica
[Applause] Gonzalez. Of course, I'm the first person to cry. I'm so sorry about that. I cry in commercials. You want to find
out. Hi everyone. First of all, I would like to start off by thanking the board of education and our superintendent, Mrs. Possa. um my building principles, Mrs. Healey and Mr. Johnston. My name is Monica Gonzalez and I'm a bilingual power professional at
MTS. I am new to Ocean County, coming from Mammoth County, born and raised in Long Branch. This move was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I'm happy that it happened. We moved here in 2022. In March of 2023, I interviewed with
Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Healey. I was so nervous, but I was so happy to get the call a few weeks later. The only downside was having to wait till the following school year to start my new chapter. I was so excited on day one at the welcome back training, but I was the
new kid and I didn't know that one person. Um, that was when I went up to our superintendent and I called her Mrs. Healey. Uh, she immediately said, I get that all the time. Uh, Mrs. then walked me over to Mary Anderson and
I met the most amazing group of ladies from day one. They made me feel like family. Shout out to my lunch crew. You guys know who you are. My first year I was so scared, but everyone was so kind and I worked with Mrs. Patulo in third grade. I learned so much with her and
loved every minute with the kids. I was also with Mrs. Walters in kindergarten. The littles are adorable. Meeting our ESL teachers, Mrs. Mercer and Mrs. Durki, was breathtaking. The passion and the love in teaching the kids English, but always wanting to know and asking
about the different cultural traditions showed me their passion. Needless to say, year 1 was amazing. I love everything about my job. I love being a voice for our students who English isn't their primary language. I love helping the parents feel at ease during this
transition, helping them understand what we MTS are all about. To Terrence, thank you for supporting me. To my children, Justin and Mariela, I'm beyond proud to be your mom and love seeing you grow into adulthood. Terrence and Tiana, my little dragons, I look forward to
continuing to see your growth at MTS, and I know that you will always be in loving hands. MTS is a family, our home away from home. I want to say thank you to everyone who took their time and wrote a recommendation letter for me for this amazing title of ESP of the year. I
will carry my title with pride and continue to make a difference and impact more lives. Thank you. All right. Now, I would like to hand the microphone over over to Ridgeway Elementary School's principal, Mrs. Sarah.
Good evening everyone. Thank you for all being here. This is such a special night. Um I am here to recognize Ridgeway's teacher of the year. Um when I think of teachers, the first thing that comes to mind is teachers are gifts.
Teachers are special people and this teacher that I'm recognizing truly is a gift to our children. Um, Miss Deb Johnson, could you please come up here? Which way teachers of
[Applause] the We are honored to recognize Ridgeway's teacher of the year, Miss Johnson. A truly distinguished educator. Her passion for teaching began early and has shaped her entire career. With a
degree in early childhood and elementary education, she has dedicated 20 years to the field, 14 years as a dolphin at Ridgeway. She creates a supportive environment uh sorry, she creates a supportive, joyful classroom environment where every
child feels valued and inspired to grow. Going above and beyond by looping with students, designing creative traditions, and collaborating with colleagues. A lifelong learner, she embraces new teaching strategies, and support students diverse needs both in and out
of the classroom. Miss Johnson's leadership extends districtwide from afterchool programs to innovative partnerships like the STARS program. She embodies dedication, creativity, and heart, making a lasting impact on students, families, and the school
community. proving that teaching just isn't her profession. And truly, she is a gift to our children. [Applause]
Thank you so much. Um, good evening everyone. Mrs. Prosa, administration, board of education to the community. Thank you to Diane and Dave and Carrie back in the day who believed in me. from the very beginning. To my second grade dream team, you know who you are.
Especially uh Danielle, Dina, Shannon, you're the definition of dedication. You work fiercely and fearlessly to meet every need of every student every day. I'm lucky to work with you. To my beautiful, supportive friends, you are
unbelievably hysterical and you make hard work fun. And I truly adore you all. to God, my parents, and my sister. Thank you for being my first teachers. You've inspired me. You taught me to work hard, to live with integrity, and
to always make a difference. And finally, to my incredible family, Marshall, Cam, Anderson, Ethan. You are my heart. Thank you for being the exceptional, hilarious, big-hearted people that you are. You are my greatest joy and my reason for everything I do. I
always say teaching is a gift. It's a gift I felt my heart from a young age. And I was tutoring with my peers and volunteering as a classroom helper. I was setting up my first job and teaching kids at a hands-on science museum. And I
was hooked like that. I wanted to educate. So I embraced it in college and majored in early childhood and elementary education. I was always eager, enthusiastic, and ready to serve because at its core, teaching truly is a gift.
It's a gift of service. I build a classroom community which I call my class family. I worked hard with kindergarters, first grade, second grade. I looped because every new challenge and every new opportunity is a
good challenge. Being able to adapt and thrive across grade levels has made me a stronger teacher and team member. teaching is also a gift of dedication and I care to deeply for my students their growth not just as learners but as
people. My commitment goes behind far beyond the classroom and I love supporting my colleagues sharing ideas collaborating. If they need someone to serve as a sounding board or a cheerleader I'm there. Teaching is a gift of growth and as chief said I'm a
lifelong learner. I try to exceed expectations. I've embraced new strategies that benefit not just me, but my whole team. Every student gets the support they need. Working closely with my special education teachers, my ESL teachers, and our support staff, we go
the extra mile together. When a child needs something beyond the classroom, like hearing aids, glasses, extra advocacy, we teach with our hearts. Speaking apart, my classroom's built on it. If you know me, you know my shining star theme. Every child knows that they're valued,
that they're seen. I prioritize communication with my family and our culture. Even if each child's birthday is celebrated because they um get a special card, handwritten by each child with their um
personal affirmations towards that person and they all sign it and make it special. In everything I do, I try to embody what it means to be an exceptional teacher. But one of the things I'm most proud of is the STARS program that we
created with the Manchester Middle School, connecting the second graders with middle schoolers through joint service and ELA projects. What a beautiful example of how we can build bridges across grades and schools. To me, teaching just isn't a
profession. It's a gift. One I'm proudly happy to share every single day. So, thank you for this honor. [Applause]
And for Ridgeways Pair Professional of the Year, I would like to call Miss William, please. One thing um I would like to say about Miss Bullion is when a lot of you don't know this when I was uh prior to this year I've been at the high school for
about 20 years and when I was transferring to the high or to originally from the high Of course, you're going through your staff and do I know these people being in the district a long time. You do cross paths, whether it's committees or or whatnot. And I remember seeing her name because I know
her children went through the high school when I was there. And I remember thinking, oh, at least I had Miss Bullion because I knew her and I knew her care for her own kids. So, I know that would translate to the classroom
she was in. And I I will tell you since arriving at Ridgeway, uh sorry my what I'm raised is on my phone because I can't see that. It's too far away from me. Um when when I did arrive, I immediately saw that passion
and that care she did have for our kids. Um Miss Bullion does go above and beyond for all of our students at Ridgeway and our staff. Um but I I have totally gone off script, so I do want to read a little bit about what I had wrote and it was with immense joy we honor Miss
Bullion as our par profofessional of the year for 10 years at Ridgeway Elementary and 15 years in our school community. Miss Bullion has been steadfast and invaluable presence. Starting as a volunteer and a substitute teacher, she quickly became essential to our school
family. With a liberal arts degree, her talents are both impressive and diverse. Inspired by her own learning journey, she's dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment where every child feels valued. Her dedication and warmth have made a lasting impact on our
students and staff. And I will say definitely to me this year I I have learned a lot from her uh navigating with sometimes some challenging students. Uh one kind of fun fact that she shared with me is to my understanding at Ridgeway she is
responsible for 50% of the hair uh hair care. So, haircuts, coloring at Ridgeway that she does have a Oh, there we go. We have some customers in in the audience as well. So, that was a fun fact she recently shared with me as well. But at this time, please join me in celebrating
Miss Bullion, a true guest of Thank you everybody. Good evening everyone. Thank you to Mrs. Pedroa, members of the board of ed administration, Miss Tif, Mrs. Lorenzo, excuse me, for having me tonight. I
apologize. I've had a cold for like a hundred days now and I'm just trying to kick it. Um, for those of you that don't know me, my name is Candace Bullion and I've spent the last 10 years as a par profofessional in Ridgeway Elementary
School, mainly in self-contained classrooms. My journey um in the Manchester Township School District started about 15 years ago when I was a copy mom, then soon became a substitute teacher in the district. At that time, I was continuing
my education in special education. I'm currently in my 17thish year of college. Um, I actually started getting emails from my university um, in the subject
line saying, "Candice, we'll pay you to finish your degree." But um, in all reality, I've sat through hundreds of second grade foundations lessons, so how much more could I even possibly learn? Um, enough
about me, though. I wanted to take this time tonight to say how humbled I am to receive this acknowledgement. Everything I do at work comes from my heart and I'm happy to do it. I wanted to quickly thank my parents for raising me well with morals,
kindness, and a great work work ethic. Thank you to my mom, Denise, for always being my voice of reason. And thank you to my dad, Jim, for teaching me that life would be way too boring if we listen to that voice of
reason. My dad is also a veteran, United States Marine Corps. Thank you, Dad, for your service. And thank you to all the men and women in this room and in our nation that have served our country. Nothing would be possible without your
service. Thank you to my husband, Jason, for always being supportive of me. Like the time I wanted to become a bus driver. Jay would describe my driving as aggressive. I say
defensive. But even with the fear in his eyes, he said whatever makes you half face. Don't worry, Mrs. Pedro. I won't apply. And thank you to my four children, Tyler, Kayla, Austin, and Cameron. It is
because of you that I truly understand the true meaning of what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I'm not sure if I'm really strong or almost dead. Of course, I'm teasing. I've learned so much about being a mom the
past 21 years. Parenting is like playing a sport. The more you practice, the better you get. So, Tyler and Kayla, I apologize, but I'm killing it with Austin and Cameron. And to all my colleagues, I
just want you to know how much I treasure our friendships. Um, I really work with the best people ever. Actually, I'm pretty sure that it's a requirement. Um, It's actually I'm pretty sure it's being
cool is a requirement to work at Ridgeway obviously. Um we are family. We get each other. We laugh. We have fun. Ridgeway has always had such a nice culture and climate and that's because of the staff that fills the
building. And last but certainly not least, thank you all to my students that I'm blessed to work with. Your innocence, your smiles, your wit bring so much joy to my life. You remind me every day how precious and beautiful
life really is. And I learn way more from you than you learn from me. I love and adore you all and will always be your voice when you need me. And I'll always be there to support you on your educational journey. Thank you and God bless you all.
At this time, I'd like to call White's principal, Miss Evelyn Swift. Everyone, I want to start by just congratulating all of the recipients tonight. Very welld deserved. So, it is an honor to introduce this year's Governor's
Educator of the Year, Miss Sarah Drew. Sarah, can you join me? So, while she's making her way, just a few things about her. First, she's joined tonight by her better half, Mel, and her twin sister, Amy, who we want to
congratulate for making it to Newark airport. So somehow she got from the west coast and managed to get to New York and down here to Manchester to be with her sister tonight. Miss Drew is a passionate educator, a
gifted musician, and a beloved member of our school community. She brings music to life for our students every single day, transforming the classroom into a place where creativity and inspiration abound. Don't let her quiet demeanor fool you.
She has worked hard to inspire our students to find their voice both musically and personally. Whether it's guiding a shy kindergartener through their first performance, directing a school chorus concert, directing the band of all three
elementary schools. Whoa. That leaves us all in awe of you, Sarah, and reminds us all of the power of music to connect us, to uplift us, and empower us. Congratulations to Whitney's
teacher of the year, Miss Sarah J. Okay, let's try. Good evening. Good evening. Um my my speech is a little longer but I have a lot of things I need to say so I'll try to speak quickly. Um the first thing I would like to say is thank you
to my colleagues who nominated me. I know that it's a timeconsuming process of writing a nomination like that one and I really appreciate you making that effort from me those of you who did that. Um I also wish to thank everyone I work with including Miss Swift and also my students and my own family.
When I started fourth grade, I could not wait to join the band. My older sister played the saxophone, and after hearing her play at home, I was beyond excited to discover which instrument would catch my eye and ear. My first band teacher, Mr. McManus, pulled all the interested fourth graders from class and showed us
our choices. And I fell in love with an instrument that I had never even heard of before called the baritone horn. I had no idea the first time I held that instrument at the age of nine that my life was already on a particular path. um that I would live and breathe music
education and performance in college or that I would someday do the same kind of work that Mr. McManus did. All I knew as a fourth grader was that I couldn't wait to finish my homework every day so that I could practice. But I just called it playing my instrument because it was so much fun. I love band because playing my
baritone was my very own special thing, but also because band was the place where I would eventually spend countless hours homing my craft and finding some of my closest friends. And on an even more personal personal note, music also led me to meet my better half in college, a fellow music teacher, an
outstanding human being. Um, with whom I've been very fortunate to share this the past 20 years. Uh, as a former band student and a turn music teacher, I have a few thoughts that I would like to share about education and also about the arts. Think of how complicated the
actions and inner workings of one person can be. And now when you expand that exponentially to that include all the interactions of children who are gathered in one place to learn, then you have the complex and everchanging ecosystem of a school. And as much as human nature often demands
one-sizefits-all approaches, that kind of simplicity is obviously not viable in a school setting. Funding, community involvement, and support and trust in our educators are only a few of the essential things that we really need. There's no simple fix for the challenges facing education today, but maintaining
an open mind is one important step that I think we can all take. To say that educating a group of children is a monumental task would be an understatement. knowing how challenging his task is. I would suggest that anyone with the mindset of here's what to do or here's what not to do or here's exactly how to
do it. Try to shift that mentality towards how can I support what educators are already doing and what is standing in the students way and what do teachers and staff members need to best be able to support and educate our students. When looking at education, an open mind is possibly our most helpful asset.
As American culture shifts towards individualism and away from collectivism, public education plays a crucial role in preserving the greater good. Unfortunately, I think that some of the individual individualism of today has made some people doubtful or suspicious of schools at times. I would
suggest that any people who feel that way attend a public school sponsored event or ask the families whose children attend public schools about their experiences. And people who witness what goes on in schools would most likely find that all children are being well cared for, protected, and above all well
educated as a music teacher. Naturally, I would also like to make an appeal for support of the arts in schools. Please keep in mind I believe all the things that I plan to say about music can be generalized to include all of these special areas in our schools. Music brings meaning into our lives, connects
us to the world, and opens doors for us. I have some band students who, just like I did growing up, spend a lot of time practicing their instruments at home. Some who don't practice very much but mostly show up for the social and teamwork aspects of a performing ensemble and some students who are somewhere in between those two places.
All members of the band are important and all reasons for being part of the band are legitimate. The same principle applies to general music as well and to the other special areas. One thing that music has in common with education is that it is a colossal and powerful part of human life that everyone can tap into
and benefit from in a myriad of ways. When it comes down to it, I personally don't think that there's a wrong way to engage with music, which is why I strive to help the students find success and joy in it early on. That way, they're set up to maintain a relationship with it in whatever form that may take throughout their whole
lives. Now that I made my points about the value of education and the arts, I would like to address my fellow educators. To all of my fellow educators, no matter your role in the schools, the students might not be capable of verbalizing this yet, but I
am. You all mountains every single day. Every single day. You are the hardest working, kindest, most determined, generous, creative, and wisest group of people on earth. You not only teach and help the children, you teach and help each other. And that has included me. In
my 17 years of teaching, I believe I believe that I have learned as much from you all as I did from the outstanding teachers of my own childhood. And that is really saying something. With the unrelenting tide of change, this job becomes more challenging every single year. You all rise to the challenge in
courageous, heroic, ingenious, and sometimes even unexpected ways. Thank you for being there for the children and for being my teammates. And I have one final um idea to leave you with. We all know that teaching is a challenge and can also be very stressful at times. So, I would encourage all of my fellow staff
members not only to continue to lean on each other for support, as we all do, um but also to look for glimmers in your everyday work. If you're unfamiliar with the concept, a glimmer is the opposite of a trigger. It activates joy. At times it can be tough to see the glimmers unless you keep an eye out for for them.
But here are a few of my examples just from this year. When teaching a band group on sports jersey day, I realized that everyone in the group was seriously into sports. Like seriously into sports, but they also chose to join the band to play instruments with me. So I felt really lucky that they were in my music
room with me at that moment playing instruments. seeing a kindergarter hugging a classmate who looked upset and then coming to me and asking for help. Uh, a student who told me she was nervous before her show at Whiting and then proceeded to sing her heart out on stage with her classmates in spite of her nerves
playing in the pit orchestra at the high school here. And I was surrounded by my former band students who are now in high school and crushing it at playing their instruments. I was so proud of them. It was really cool to be able to play in an ensemble with them as well. Um, a band student trouble
regulating his emotions in class, but finds himself smiling and laughing his way through all of his band lessons because his bandmates are seriously hilarious. As I said, there are just a few of of my examples. These are just a few, and I'm sure if you look out for yours, they will appear easily in your day as well. Please remember on your
search for your own glimmers that the work you do also helps create glimmers for your students every day. Thank you all again for everything that you do for the students and thank you all very much for this honor. And so now I would like to recognize our educational service professional,
Virginia Dice. Virginia, can you make your is joined tonight by her parents, Byron and Judy G. As our guidance counselor, Miss G provides compassionate support for all of our students. She helps them
navigate challenges, build confidence, and develop the social and emotional tools they'll carry long after they leave white school. Whether meeting oneonone with a student in need, guiding a classroom through a lesson on kindness, supporting families, or
developing seal day activities. She approaches every moment with commitment to helping every child thrive. And she also entertains all of my crazy ideas with first blank stairs and then smile
and then, okay, Miss Swift, I think we can do it. We can do it. and I appreciate her for that because she loves our kids. So, I am very proud to recognize Miss Virginia
[Applause] Dice. Hello everyone. Thank you all for being here today. I'm incred incredibly honored and humbled to receive the Whiten Educational Support Professional of the Year Award. This recognition
truly means the world to me. I've always believed that it takes a village to support our students and I'm proud to be part of the team that works so hard, often behind the scenes, to make a someone's day a little bit brighter. When I graduated in May of 2020, I never imagined this what the next 5 years
would look like for me. I was lucky enough to start my career in the fall 2020 at Manchester Elementary School. The immediate warm welcome I received from the administration, staff, and students was incredible. I gained so much knowledge and experience within
that first year. As sad it as sad, sorry, as sad as it was to leave Manchester Township Elementary School, it turned the page to a new chapter. When I found out Wayne Elementary had a position open in that fall, I was so excited. Not only was it in the district
where I first started, but it was in a school that I heard so many wonderful things about, the little school of the big heart. I can wholeheartedly say that is fully true. I I do not think I would be the counselor I am today if I never entered Buen Elementary. The past three
and a half years have been a challenge for me, but I could have never imagined not having those challenges. It gave me the confidence, passion, and love for being a school counselor. I first want to thank Miss Swift. Without your guidance and support, I would never have made it this far. You allow me to create
so many wonderful experiences for our students, even if you think my ideas may be crazy. You pushed me to be a better counselor and more importantly believe in myself. To the administration and school leadership, thank you for valuing the work and the support staff. It means so
meaningful to see to be seen and appreciated. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this amazing district. To my colleagues, thank you for your kindness and your support. Whether it's stepping in when someone needs a hand or simply sharing a smile on a hard day, you know how to truly make me smile. To
my parents, I appreciate you both more than you'll ever know. Your support through my college career and every other day allows me to be the individual I am today. And to my students, thank you. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for pushing me to the person who I can be. Thank you for more importantly
allowing me to grow as an individual. You teach me new things every day. This award is not just mine. It's a celebration of all educational support professionals who go above and beyond, often without recognition. I share this honor with every one of you who believes in the power of patience, compassion,
and dedication. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart and have a great [Applause] night. At this time, I'd like to ask
Miss McCallis, who is the principal of Regional Day School, to come forward. [Applause] [Music] Good evening again. I just like to congratulate all this this evening's honores team of the
year and it is my honor to introduce Miss Ellie Highland. Come on up. [Applause] She's joined this evening by her entire
family, her parents, grandparents, and Ellie is a third generation teacher. Um, so education is a very important part of her family. Um, Ellie has only been teaching for three years and she has made regional day school
her. This educator has made significant impact on the lives of so many students and families. Her classroom environment is an inviting and inspiring space for students to be themselves while learning life skills and that there are limitless
possibilities. Daily lessons extend beyond the traditional reading, writing and math as she builds upon the students interests and further build their independence, confidence and celebrates their uniqueness. She is a highly valued member of our faculty and active on
several committees. She volunteers her time in the community to provide breastfeed care for adults with special needs. She is a sign language interpreter and interprets at local events and most recently she is a buddy of the annual night to shine by the Timbo
Foundation. Also, Ellie was selected as a hometown hero by the United States Air Force and showed us all by her VIP fly along the sky is the limit as she soared at 9 G's. Congratulations to Miss Ellie
Highland. You are a hero to our students. Hello. I feel incredibly honored to be selected as this year's teacher of the year for Regional Day School. I want to thank Regional Day and Miss Lisa for taking a chance on me. the first year teacher
with absolutely no experience. But luckily for me, at my first job out of college, I was given the opportunity to be creative, take risks, and build my classroom to be how I've always dreamt it to be. A classroom filled with love, compassion, and of course, a whole lot
of fun. I'm so blessed to be able to wake up every day and know that I'm coming to work and to a classroom and to a school where the students are cared for, taught how to be good people, and celebrated for their individual accomplishments. For my students, I
always strive to show them that their possibilities are limitless and they should always shoot for the stars. My students are the reason that I am so passionate about what I do and why I continue to advocate for them and do my very best to make their school experience meaningful and joyful. My goal has always been to create a
positive, uplifting, and safe environment for my students. At the end of the day, if they are happy and smiling, then I've been successful. Nonetheless, I wouldn't be standing here without the continuous support from the Manchester District, my colleagues at Regional Day School, my
amazing power professionals in V4, and of course, my entourage of family members who are always there to celebrate my successes no matter how big or small. I certainly put my heart and soul into what I do. So to be recognized as teacher of the year is truly an honor. Thank you.
[Applause] Next, it's my honor to introduce Miss Jessica Nolan. You know her as Miss Jess and she's been part of her regional day school family for the past five years as a personal par profofessional in our preschool disabilities program. She frequently
wears a shirt that says preschool is my jam and we are very lucky to have Miss Jess on our faculty. She's quite crafty. She's very humble. does a lot of work behind the scenes. She has the most positive attitude and kindhearted nature. This
year, one of our students uh fell very ill and she volunteered her home as a host site for townwide garage sale to raise funds for the family. The donations poured in for three days. She had stuff and more stuff on her
yard. All proceeds that were raised by that fundraiser were provided to the family to offset the growing This is just an example of how she shines. Miss Nolan is a Manchester resident, a local Girl Scout leader. She
volunteers even at an amateur soldier and a pack farm in her free time. This honor is truly welld deserved for Miss Jess because her RDS family really feel that she's she is an extra special person. Congratulations, keep this short and I also have 100
days. Preschoolers love to share. Uh I just want to say a quick thank you. Uh what an honor it is to be nominated. Uh I grew up in this town. I love Manchester. I graduated from this high school teacher.
I love my job and the ladies I work with. I wouldn't be able to do the things we do without each other. So, thank you all for your support every day. Uh I love our tiny humans are my favorite. The reason I come to work every day, uh they keep it interesting
for sure. Uh I love to watch them grow. It's amazing. RTS is a special place and I'm so happy that I found my home there for love. [Applause]
So, congratulations to our teachers and ESP of the year. ask if the teachers and the ESPs would come up. We're going to try to take a group photo. We're going to come right over here. And then families, if you
want to take a picture as well, you're welcome to send one person up, but if the teachers and the ESPs would come up to take a picture. Happy birthday. This is B.
What are the [Music] supposed [Music] See, you guys are We're going to go. [Music] Mommy, you go grab my purse. You want to see the picture? You want to
take a picture with grandma? Yeah. Make a pose for another one. Thank you. Okay, we're going to do a fiveminut recess. You can take photos. If you'd like to come back in, stay for the rest of the meeting, you certainly can do
that. If not, have a great night. We'll see you all at graduation. Thank you. Thank you. [Music] Stop. [Music]
Ellie's Ellie's got her 15 minutes of pain. Thank you. What's up, girl? [Music] See you tomorrow. looking at our building. [Music] Thank you for coming out.
[Music] [Music] See you tomorrow. [Music] [Music] [Applause]
Candy are Oh my god. Oh, thank you. anxiety. [Music] [Music] [Music] Yeah. I told
you. Now we know each other. [Applause] [Applause] We're going to get started again. [Music] to all of our teachers and of the year for hard work and dedication. Thank you to all the family, friends,
administrator and colleagues for coming out to support. At this time, we'd like to invite Mr. Lorenzo to give his report. Just two quick items of our 2526 budget department. Nice to meet you.
Notices that budgets and budget. So, we will get started on opening up the budget through the next school year starting process year. And one item on the agenda. Uh, one of the things that the Department of Education has started
doing now is they send out their weekly broadcast is they also send out grant opportunities that are available uh to school districts. One of the ones that we we're we're submitting a grant application for. It's called focus grant. Um what this this
grant is for is it'll supply funding so that we can implement a high quality screener for uh literacy high quality high quality literacy screener for grades K through. So we are uh asking the board tonight to approve the grant
submission and we'll see what we get. We're requesting about $7,300 uh to some new screeners for our thank for working on that for us. So, thank [Applause]
you. At this time, we would like to invite anybody um from the audience to come forward and ask questions on agenda items only. Do we have any board member reports? Do we have any No business or
correspondence? No business. No correspondence. Okay, let's move to the agenda, please. Section one, new business numbers 1 through 4. Can I get a motion? Any discussion? Can I get a roll call,
please? Mrs. MC, yes. Mrs. Mer and M. Yes. B through D contracts, curriculum, and appointments for the 2526 school year. Can I get a motion? Second.
Discussion. Could I get a roll call, please? Mr. Ser, yes. Miss, yes. Mrs. Yes. Mr. M. Yes. Section two, administrative numbers 1 through eight. Can I get a
motion? Any discussion? Can I get a roll call, please? Mr. Ser, yes. M. Yes. Mrs. Yes. Mr. M. Yes. Um, personnel numbers 1 to
38. Can I get a motion? Discussion. I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Listister. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our Manchester schools and to all the other people retiring or resigning. We wish you the best. Thank you for all you've done.
Can I get a roll call, please? Mrs. Yes. Missy, yes. Mrs. Yes. Mr. Mrs. Yes. Student personnel numbers one and two. Can I get a motion, please? Any discussion?
Can I get a pay roll call, please? Mrs. Yes. We Yes. Mrs. Yes. Mr. Mrs. Yes. Special services number one. Can I get a motion? Discussion. Roll call, please. Mr. S.
Yes. Minste. Yes. Mrs. Yes. Mr. B. Yes. Yes. Section three, finance numbers 1 through five. Can I get a motion, please? Any discussion? Can I get a roll call, please? Mr. Ser,
yes. Min, Mrs. Mr. Mrs. Yes. At this time, we'd like to invite anybody from the public to come to the microphone for comment. I'd like to make a motion to adjurnn. Can I get a second?
All in favor? Have a great night, everybody. See it