May 30, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • Page 15
Four Midland Park teachers have been recognized as outstanding educators under the Bergen County Teacher Recognition Program. Barbara Makela, the math basic skills teacher at Godwin School; Eileen Brown, a third grade teacher at Highland; Jason Gangi, a special needs teacher in the junior high; and veteran high school math teacher Leon Varjian were honored at the start of the board of education meeting last week. Elementary Principal Danielle Bache praised Makela, who started as an aide in 1999 and as the math basic skills teacher in 2005, for her dedication to the children and to mathematics. “She is passionate about her subject and wants to help all children learn and more importantly understand mathematical concepts. Her lessons are multi-sensory and move from the concrete to the abstract. Barbara also assists the classroom teachers by providing them with resources and alternate instructional strategies. Barbara is a dedicated learner and continues to educate herself through graduate courses and workshops,” said Bache. “She has been an asset to the students, staff and administration at the Godwin school. “ Brown also started her teaching career in Midland Park as an aide (in 1995) and then became a third grade teacher, and has taught in collaborative settings with special education students and the hearing impaired population since 2001. “She is an innovative and energetic teacher who incorporates technology into many of her lessons. She uses the inter write board for interactive lessons and the elmo document camera to display samples or student work. Eileen plans lessons that engage her students and excite them to learn,” said Bache. “She is a warm, compassion-
Four teachers recognized for their achievements
ate teacher who infuses humor and music into her classroom. This helps the students feel comfortable and safe in their surroundings. Eileen continues to learn through professional development and implement new techniques that will help her students meet with success.” “When one thinks of Jason Gangi ‘positive energy’ comes to mind,” said Principal Nicholas Capuano of the junior high honoree, who has only been in the district for three years and this year took on the challenge to work with the seventh graders in the study skills class addressing math issues. “Jason is a teacher that genuinely cares about the students. He is patient yet firm. Here is an individual that gives up his lunch to work with students to organize their notebook. He is a good listener and just enjoys being with students. He can take complex information such as the parts of a flower and break it down so students can understand and can relate to it,” Capuano noted. Capuano called Varjian, who has been at Midland Park High School for 24 years, “the pillar in the math department” and “one of our tireless humanitarians on the staff.” Varjian collaborated with other major organizations such as the National Honor Society and the Interact Club to spearhead community service activities benefiting such organizations as the LOVE Fund, Emanuel Cancer Society or the food pantry. Capuano credits Varjian with bringing about a new level of school spirit to the building this year. This includes: • providing score cards during the baseball/softball games • collecting soup and food drives during the Thanksgiving holiday
• Organizing toy and coat drives during the winter holidays • Playing an integral role in raising money for a bench in memory of Matt Sayles The honorees were selected by a local school district committee. Each public school district may select one teacher or educational services professional per school for the honor.
Council primary slate to run unopposed
(continued from page 13) veteran, is a past Grand Knight of the Midland Park Knights of Columbus. He has chaired BSA Troop 157 for the last five years, has been on the board of recreation for the past three years and served as secretary of the Midland Park United Republican Club for the past four years. Since 1994, he has been a Nativity Church Eucharistic Minister. He chairs the council’s Public Safety Committee. The Primary election is slated for Tuesday, June 5, at which time Democrat and Republican voters will also select candidates to represent their respective parties for president, state senate, congress and freeholder positions, as well as the local county committee. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. June 5 is also the deadline for residents wishing to run as independents in the November general election. That deadline is 4 p.m. in the County Clerk’s office in Hackensack.