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Bayonne teacher Kathy Hurley receives Valor award after intervening to protect a student
Summary
At the Bayonne Board of Education's December workshop, the board presented an October 2024 Valor award to Midtown teacher Kathy Hurley for intervening to protect a student during an attack; Hurley described colleagues' quick help and framed school safety as a societal issue.
The Bayonne Board of Education presented its October 2024 Valor award at the district's December workshop to Kathy Hurley, a special education teacher at Midtown Community School, for intervening to protect a child during an October incident.
Hurley told the board she contacted colleagues after the attack and said two staff members "Tim and Jerome were there and they never left his side." She said the student asked to return to school, saying, "let me go I want to go back to school I need my boys my friends," and described the episode as part of a wider problem: "this violence is a society problem it filters down into our schools but it doesn't originate there." Hurley said educators work daily to protect and support students and urged recognition of that role.
Board members applauded and thanked Hurley for her actions. The superintendent said the board and district were grateful and noted Hurley's intervention illustrated the district's commitment to student safety. The superintendent also introduced Chester Banks as the new president of the local NAACP, who was in attendance.
After the presentation the meeting moved on to routine business. The board did not take formal action related to the incident during the workshop; the award presentation and Hurley's remarks were presented for recognition and community context.
