City School District Honors 2011 Teachers of the Year

The board of education honored 15 district educators at its meeting Tuesday night with an annual award that recognizes outstanding teaching abilities in selected district staff.

Superintendent Richard Kaplan said "rigorous criteria" is established by the state for the award, and the winners are chosen by their work peers.

The recipients were:

• Catherine Sa, a teacher at the Adult Learning Center
• Carmen Rodriguez, a teacher at Lincoln School
• Hope Wilkins, a teacher at Livingston School
• Joanne Wurtz, a teacher at Lord Stirling Community School
• Helene Sussman, a teacher at McKinley School
• Denise Spina, a teacher at New Brunswick Health Sciences and Technology High School
• Steven Antosky, a teacher at New Brunswick High School
• Carmen Tavares, a teacher at New Brunswick Middle School
• Susan Bender, a teacher at the Paul Robeson Annex
• Roxy Lockhart, a teacher at Paul Robeson School
• Judy Steinitz, a teacher with pupil personnel services
• Glenis Dupree, a teacher at Redshaw School
• Gisela Castro, a teacher at Roosevelt School
• Lynette Colligan, a teacher at Woodrow Wilson School

• Carolyn Newsom, a paraprofessional at Roosevelt School, for the 2011 Support Staff of the Year award.

Each recipient was introduced by their building principal with glowing praises as to why they deserved the award.

Livingston School principal Georgette Gonzalez described Wilkins as her "right hand lady."

"She is the first to get there and the last one to leave work,'' she said.

Lincoln School principal Jason Harris said Rodriguez is a "Consummate professional,' who gives of herself, her resources and her time.

Kathy Clark, principal of the Paul Robeson Annex, said Bender's job is not one that just anyone could do. 

"To be a kindergarten teacher? Not everyone can do this job,'' she said.

The winners thanked their peers for the recognition, and expressed their love of teaching and a love of teaching in New Brunswick specifically.

"I am a product of New Brunswick (bilingual) education,'' Dupree said, stating that it was the teachers she had while a student in New Brunswick public schools that got her to where she is today.

Waltz, whose mother grew up in New Brunswick and attended school here, said teaching in the district has felt like coming back to her roots.

"Teaching in New Brunswick has brought me great joy,'' she said.

Board of education presidet Benito Ortiz thanked the winners for what they have done for their schools.

"You make us all very proud in this district, so thank you,'' he said.

In addition to the teachers of the year, 35 retirees were recognized for their service to the district.