Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recognitions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Egg Harbor Township Board honors teachers and educational-service professionals at annual awards
Summary
The Egg Harbor Township Board of Education recognized 14 teachers and educational service professionals across district schools at its May 2025 meeting, highlighting student-connected instruction, extracurricular leadership and district career‑and‑technical program successes.
The Egg Harbor Township Board of Education recognized 14 teachers and educational service professionals at its May 2025 regular meeting, honoring classroom and student-support staff from preschool through high school.
The awards were introduced after the superintendent's report and a district video that listed each school’s honorees. Dr. Gruccio, the district superintendent, opened the recognitions by describing recent student successes and district programs that feed into classroom achievement and career readiness. The honorees, who will receive plaques and letters from the board, include Bernadette Cottrell (Bargain Town Preschool), Jody Beck (Bargain Town Preschool ESP), Holly Lesser (Swift's Sleigh Ball Complex teacher), Kimberly Biggins (Davenport teacher), James Ferriola (Alder Avenue Middle School teacher), Krista Delaney (Egg Harbor Township High School teacher), and several other teachers and ESPs named during the presentation.
Why this matters: the awards highlight staff who the district said model its learning goals and contribute to extracurricular and career-technical programming that district leaders argued improves student engagement and post‑secondary readiness.
Principals introduced recipients and described specific contributions. Joe Marinelli, the preschool principal, praised Bernadette Cottrell’s early‑childhood instruction and community outreach. Rachel Kasimpeng, principal of the Swift campus, introduced Holly Lesser and noted classroom practices such as data notebooks and SOAR strategies that support student growth. Jim Battersby of Miller School identified Kim Biggins as an instructional leader who runs family literacy workshops and mentoring; Battersby also introduced Jen Mount as the building’s Educational Specialist of the Year. Jacqueline Krogno, the high‑school principal, described Krista Delaney’s statewide and national environmental‑education leadership, citing state awards and national recognition.
The board paused for a five‑to‑eight minute photo break so recipients could take group photos and accept plaques. The meeting resumed after the photo opportunity and continued with committee reports and votes.
The district video listing the honorees and principals’ remarks serve as the public record of the recognitions.
