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Board honors retirees, valedictorian and student-athletes at end-of-year meeting
Summary
At its June 9 workshop, the Pequannock Township School District board recognized student award winners, the high school valedictorian and salutatorian, multiple championship athletes, and several staff members retiring after long service.
The Pequannock Township School District board used its June 9 meeting to honor academic and athletic student achievements and to recognize a group of long-serving employees retiring this year.
Superintendent Dr. David Portis and school leaders recognized PTHS valedictorian Ivana von Wingarden and salutatorian Kate Dunham, noting their academic records and plans: Dunham will study chemistry at UCLA and von Wingarden will pursue accounting and business analytics at The College of New Jersey, according to remarks delivered at the meeting. The board also recognized senior academic award winners and student scholarship recipients; administrators said donors contributed more than $106,000 in scholarships to the class.
The board honored multiple student-athletes for conference and county championships. Coach speakers highlighted Henry Struble as PTHS’s first male outdoor state champion in discus and noted several county champions at the Pequannock Valley level, including John Bertelli, Elizabeth Cook and Elena D’Amico, who set a school shot-put record. Coaches and administrators praised the athletes’ performances and sportsmanship.
Administrators also paid tribute to a sizable group of retirees. Individual remarks recounted long service and contributions from teachers and administrators including Karen Schiphol (28 years), Beth Sheridan (curriculum director and longtime supervisor), Galina Crocco (AP calculus teacher, 17 years at PTHS), Patty Walker (28 years, Pequannock Valley), Greg Slaff (math teacher and coach), Patricia Bellas (Hillview, 21 years) and others. Speakers described each retiree’s instructional contributions, community involvement and plans for retirement; several noted awards and professional achievements.
The board announced it will vote on a proclamation honoring student representatives and complete related action items during the board’s formal business vote portion of the agenda. The recognitions were presented as ceremonial items; no policy changes or personnel actions were taken during the recognition portions of the June 9 workshop.
