Ridgefield Park honors eight educators across four schools at Jan. 21 board meeting

The Ridgefield Park Board of Education used its Jan. 21 meeting to honor eight district staff as this year’s Educator of the Year recipients, recognizing one Teacher of the Year and one Educational Services Professional from each building. Principals from Grant, Lincoln, Roosevelt and the junior–senior high school presented the nominees and recipients and the board and superintendent offered congratulations.

The district’s participation in the Governor’s Educator of the Year program expanded the pool the second year the district participated, Superintendent Ferraro said, allowing two honorees per building (one teacher and one educational services professional). Presentations included biographical highlights, examples of classroom practice and community contributions for each recipient.

In remarks during the ceremony, one recipient said she was “incredibly honored and truly grateful for this recognition,” and several recipients dedicated their awards to colleagues, family members and mentors. Principals highlighted specifics: at Lincoln a teacher who received the Bergen County PTA award was praised for small-group instruction and high student NJSLA scores; Roosevelt’s honorees were noted for collaboration on curriculum and mentoring; and the junior–senior high recognized long service in music and contributions to the band program.

The superintendent told the board the four Teacher of the Year recipients are eligible to apply for county-level recognition. The board paused the meeting briefly to take a group photograph of recipients and thanked staff for their work.

The board moved from recognition into routine business and the superintendent closed his report later in the agenda.