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Belleville honors 2024–25 governor’s educators and educational service professionals
Summary
The Belleville Public School District recognized teachers and educational service professionals across its schools as the district announced Governor’s Educator and Educational Service Professional of the Year honorees.
The Belleville Public School District on Monday honored its 2024–25 Governor’s Educator and Educational Service Professional of the Year winners from schools across the district, with principals and central office staff calling employees to the stage and highlighting classroom and support contributions.
Superintendent Nicholas Perapata introduced the student presentations and award recognitions, and principals from each school read citations for their honorees. At Hornblower Early Childhood Center, officials announced Madison Vergara as the building’s Governor’s Educator of the Year and Joe Trabuco as the Educational Service Professional of the Year. "Miss Vergara arrives daily at the building with a smile, ready to welcome her students and the day with the same positive outlook," a principal said.
Other honorees included Kim Racinos at School No. 3; Liliana Pena (educational service professional) and Jessica Peralta (School No. 4 Educational Service Professional); Melissa Macion (School No. 5 Governor’s Educator of the Year) and Janice Giangrande (Educational Service Professional of the Year); Sharon Stivali (School No. 7 Governor’s Educator of the Year) and Pete Velarde (Educational Service Professional of the Year); Patricia Drudy (School No. 8 Governor’s Educator of the Year) and Michael Diaz (Educational Service Professional of the Year); Cara Sator (School No. 9 Educational Service Professional of the Year) and Melissa Brigatti (School No. 9 Governor’s Educator of the Year); Michelle McDonough (Belleville High School Governor’s Educator of the Year) and Jane Holtzman (high school Educational Service Professional of the Year).
School leaders praised honorees for classroom innovation, student engagement and supportive roles. At least one principal noted honorees' work extending beyond classroom instruction to mentorship, safety duties and family outreach. "She’s a true team player, volunteering on numerous committees," a principal said of Madison Vergara.
The board also recognized student work from School No. 5’s gifted and talented program, which presented short projects on women inventors during Women’s History Month. Several students described the inventions they researched and explained historical context for their projects.
Ending: Trustees and administrators asked the public to join refreshment time after the presentations and congratulated honorees and their families for their service to the district.
