[Newark, NJ – May 30, 2018] Newark Public Schools celebrated 66 teachers and Education Service Professionals who were honored as the best of the best in Newark Public Schools at the annual Teacher of the Year Awards Breakfast. This year, New Jersey’s largest school district also celebrated Education Service Professionals; including School Operations Managers, Security Guards, Guidance Counselors, Social Workers, Food Service Workers and Community Engagement Specialists, all of whom contribute to making the school day a positive experience and the school a destination for more than 36K students every day.

The teacher honorees included one teacher who for family reasons had to suddenly relocate to Colorado. Soon after the move the father died, leaving the students disconnected to the community. The teacher traveled to Colorado to introduce the family to service professionals and others who helped with the father’s death and to get the Brazilian family needed resources. Both the teacher and her husband continue to tutor and work with the students via SKYPE. One Education Service Professional was honored today for spending evenings at school helping graduating seniors prepare college applications and complete exams and paperwork to ensure they met requirements and deadlines for college and Thomassina McAfee celebrated 54 years employed with NPS and Camden Street School. Earlier this month, NPS also recognized Lourdes Reyes, a special needs teacher at First Avenue School, as the Teacher of the Year Honors.

Interim Superintendent of Schools A. Robert Gregory said, “Thank you to each of our teachers and education service professionals, because it is you, who are reimagining what our schools should look like. This annual celebration is our way of saying thank you and showing you the value you bring to every student and every school – on behalf of everyone at Newark Public Schools, thank you, we truly appreciate you choosing to teach in Newark.” He continued, “You ignite the genius in every student, and make our students come to school excited, and ready to learn and soar.”

Interim Superintendent Gregory was joined by Incoming Superintendent Roger Leon and Senator Teresa Ruiz.

Honorees:

  • Carolyn Garcia, Abington Ave.
  • Julia Aleman, Abington Ave.
  • Maria Costeira Da Cruz, Ann St. – Posthumously
  • Marcella Ciotolla, Avon Ave.
  • Dr. Tiffany Morris, Bard High School Early College
  • Tamar Mitchell, Bard High School Early College
  • Gwendolyn Bynum, Belmont-Runyon
  • Elaina Riccardi, Branch Brook
  • Thomassina McAfee, Camden St. – 54 years with NPS !!!!
  • Patricia D’Ambrosio, Camden St.
  • Esther Emmanuel, Central High
  • Jacqueline Smith, Chancellor Ave.
  • Anthony Jackson, Chancellor Ave.
  • Nadira Coley, Cleveland
  • Cherisse Charles, Early Childhood School Central
  • Jessica Adorno, Early Childhood School North
  • LaTonya Drayton, Early Childhood School West
  • Lilia Arfinengo, East Side High
  • Debra Crosby, East Side High
  • Brenda Almodovar, Elliott St.
  • Gina Lee Onorevole, Elliott St.
  • Lourdes Reyes, First Ave.
  • Maricela Rodriguez, First Ave.
  • Emily Burnett, Fourteenth Ave.
  • Tracy Blazquez, Franklin
  • Brooklyn Holt, Harriet Tubman
  • Jacqueline Iannucci, Hawkins St.
  • Florence Ememe, Hawthorne Ave.
  • Dr. Vivian Ijoma-Tamin, Hawthorne Ave.
  • Kelvin Henry, Ivy Hill Elementary
  • Leonie Cammock, John F. Kennedy
  • Lekesha Brooks-Wertz, John F. Kennedy
  • Marisol Casais, Lafayette St.
  • Kay Pollard, Lincoln
  • Holly Wojciechowski, Spencer/Miller
  • Stephen Mayer, Spencer/Miller
  • Tiffany Raphael-Wicks, Luis Munoz Marin
  • Nicholas Ferriero, Malcolm X Shabazz
  • Allison DeVaughn, Malcolm X Shabazz
  • Jennifer LoConti, Mc Kinley
  • Desrie Morris, Mount Vernon
  • Nanettee Garcia DeLos Santos, N. J. Regional Day
  • Marcia DiNorscio, No. 10th Street
  • Jennifer Baccellieri, Oliver St.
  • Jennifer Rossi, Park Elementary School
  • Rosiland Johnson-Gayton, Peshine Ave.
  • Allison Bowman, Peshine Ave.
  • Maria Hermo, Rafael Hernandez
  • Ann Marie Santos, Ridge St.
  • Melissa Edwards, Roberto Clemente
  • Wahab Ashraf, Science High
  • Amiyrah Waddell, So. 17th St.
  • Andrea Arguello, South St.
  • Tricia Brewster, Speedway Avenue
  • Bridget Bussey, Speedway Avenue
  • Lin Hong, Sussex Ave.
  • Noemi Ballester, Technology High School
  • Andrea Valerius, Technology High School
  • Krisha Giammarco, Thirteenth Avenue
  • Liza Lopez, University High
  • Lidia Dos Santos, West Side
  • Judith Mosselle, West Side
  • Elizabeth Clark, Weequahic High
  • Nicole Myers, William H. Horton
  • Michael Gizzi, Wilson Ave.
  • Joseph Amabile, Newark Institute of Culinary Education