Revise la carta adjunta sobre la Evaluación del aprendizaje de los estudiantes de Nueva Jersey.

• NJSLA Testing Letter – English
• NJSLA Testing Letter – Spanish

Her passion for providing personal and professional development opportunities for herself, students, and colleagues stems from overcoming one of the biggest challenges in her career – following your heart!

The Bound Brook School District continues to spotlight our talented alumni, who have excelled and broken barriers to become professionals in their field of studies.

Get to know more about Dr. Suk:

What do you currently do (your career/college path)?

I decided to pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching after graduating from Rider University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1996. Life took some turns prompting me to explore other avenues to pursue professional licensure. In 1998, I entered the Alternate Route to Teaching Program and later completed a Master of Education in Instruction from The College of New Jersey. I went on to earn a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Stockton University in 2019.

Between 1998 and 2008, I served two public school districts. I taught middle school math and Spanish for one year and fourth grade for nine years. I hold certificates as both an Elementary Classroom Teacher and a Supervisor of Instruction.  Currently, I am a professor at Raritan Valley Community College, where I have been teaching preservice teachers for 17 years.

How did Bound Brook prepare you for your future?

Although I was a strong student, a varsity athlete and cheerleader, and an officer of multiple Honor Societies and clubs, I was the victim of constant bullying. I learned strength of character is essential, and no matter the obstacle, I had to remain true to myself. That commitment to authenticity and integrity has served me well, and I make every effort to foster the same qualities in my son and my students for their futures.

Did any teachers or staff mentor you along that path? 

Many of the influential educators during my time in the Bound Brook School District are no longer with the district, have retired, or have passed on. It is difficult to select which were the most instrumental or impactful along my journey. There are too many to name; some had a positive influence on me as a student, while others guided me as an educator. There were happy and challenging moments with them; each experiencing playing a role in shaping the person I am today. I am grateful to have shared those experiences with them.

What was your most memorable moment at Bound Brook? 

There are so many memories to choose from, it is next to impossible to select one. I do believe, however, that the times that I’ve gotten to speak about my pride in our town resonate with me the most. I did so at a Board of Education meeting during high school. And just recently, I did so at Smalley School’s Multicultural Night two years ago and at an Alumni Panel at Bound Brook High School a few months ago.  We, the Crusaders, are often discounted as underdogs because of where we live and where we’ve come from; however, our story is so rich and so diverse because of our histories.  This is what makes us small but mighty and I don’t want anyone to forget it ever!

What advice would you give Bound Brook students looking to enter that career?

Teaching is one of the most noble professions and one of the most challenging and rewarding careers you can select. As members of the Bound Brook School Community, you know that the diversity of our student population does not match the diversity of the educator population. We need more representation in the Teaching profession. We need more males, and we need more Black and Latinx educators in our nation’s classrooms. We can all name one or more than one teacher who positively impacted our lives; don’t you want to be that same influence in someone else’s life someday?

Please consider pursuing a career in Education, and if you have any questions, reach out! I’m happy to help you to navigate this career path as the journey to licensure may look different for each of you.

What is a challenge or obstacle that you overcame and are proud of regarding your career?

The greatest challenge I have overcome in my career was being able to follow my heart! When I went to my high school guidance counselor to tell him I wanted to be a bilingual guidance counselor, he lost his mind. He screamed, “You’re too smart for Education!” I entered college to study accounting, and I was miserable. When I finally did what I felt called to do, I never looked back. I am so grateful for all I have accomplished as an educator, but most importantly, I am so incredibly proud of all my students have accomplished. They, and my son, are my legacy; I could not be prouder of all of them!

What are some future goals or aspirations that you have for your own career?

I have been teaching for 27 years.  My role in the classroom and the profession continues to evolve. Right now, I aspire to bring the Alternate Route to teaching program to Raritan Valley Community College.  Further, I am collaborating with other community college colleagues to develop a pathway for paraprofessionals to pursue teaching credentials, as well.  I want to ensure that the teacher pipeline is filled with passionate, qualified, community-oriented professionals who can serve their students and communities with pride, intelligence, and honor.

Dr. Suk encourages any student who may be interested in these programs or looking to learn more about pursuing Education as a career to reach out at 908-526-1200 x8983 or kathryn.suk@raritanval.edu.

Each year, New Jersey school districts nominate their educators for the prestigious Governor’s Educator of the Year Award through the New Jersey Department of Education. The program seeks to recognize educators “who have gone above and beyond in their service to New Jersey’s students” and to create a culture that recognizes excellence and brings public attention to the work of outstanding educators.

“On behalf of the district and Board of Education, I want to say, ‘congratulations’ and ‘thank you’ to the 10 teachers and educational services professionals who were recognized through the program,” said Superintendent Alvin Freeman, Ed.D. “Their hard work and dedication to student success is what makes Bound Brook School District and its students bound for greatness.”

The Governor’s Educator of the Year recipients are:

Teachers:

Samantha Melesurgo, LaMonte/LaMonte Annex Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Stephanie Ackley, Lafayette Elementary Art Teacher

Gina Petrusky, Smalley Elementary Gifted and Talented Program Instructor

Kim Kredatus, Community Middle School Science Teacher

Joelle Smith, Bound Brook High School Mathematics Teacher

Educational Services Professionals:

Alma Pena, LaMonte/LaMonte Annex Teacher Assistant

Renee Jacobs-Grauer, Lafayette Elementary Speech Therapist

Lee Eaton, Smalley Elementary School Counselor

Genesis Picado, Community Middle School Teacher Assistant

Deborah Paulsen, Bound Brook High School Student Assistance Counselor

“We are incredibly honored to continue growing our relationship with Rutgers University and to streamline the path for classroom aides and paraprofessionals in Bound Brook to earn their teaching certificates,” said Superintendent Dr. Alvin Freeman. “Bound Brook’s educational support professionals already contribute so much to our schools and students, and this grant provides them with the financial support and mentorship to advance their careers as educators.” 

The state DOE awarded Ramapo College and Rutgers University in New Brunswick $400,000 each to partner with eight school districts. Funding will be used to offset the costs associated with tuition, books and materials, mentorships, and structured on-the-job training. 

Chief Academic Officer Robyn Griffin said this opportunity is important to BBSD as schools across the state and country look for ways to recruit and retain K-12 teachers amid shortages. The program came from recommendations of the Task Force on Public School Staff Shortages in New Jersey. 

“We hope that one of the outcomes of this program will be a stronger and more diversified teaching staff in BBSD,” Griffin said. “Not everyone follows a traditional path to become a teacher, so this program provides the support and mentorship for our classroom aides and paraprofessionals to become teachers and play an even greater role in the lives of Bound Brook students.” 

Paraprofessionals in the program can typically earn their state teaching certification in two to four years, depending on their level of experience and education when beginning the program. The program targets fields disproportionately impacted by staff shortages, such as special education, science, math, English as a second language, and bilingual education.  

“We are excited to begin this work and to continue growing our relationship with Rutgers,” Griffin said. “This program stands to benefit many paraprofessionals and classroom aides in Bound Brook.” 

Grades 7-8:

• Incoming 7th Grade Math Summer Assignment
• (Spanish) Incoming 7th Grade Math Summer Assignment
• Incoming 7th Grade H Math Summer Assignment
• Incoming 8th Grade Summer Assignment

Grades 9-12:

• Incoming Algebra 1 Summer Assignment
• Incoming Algebra 2 Summer Assignment
• Incoming Pre-Calculus Summer Assignment
• Incoming AP Calculus Summer Assignment
• Incoming Geometry Summer Assignment

Farida B. 

On the way toward earning first place, seventh-grader Farida used several practice methods to help her prepare for the Spelling Bee competition, which included writing words repeatedly to memorize the spelling and using the app, Wordclub, to help her recite words and pronunciations. 

On the day of the event, friends helped to boost her confidence, in addition to CMS Physical Education/Health teacher, Mr. Leh. 

“Mr. Leh really helped me to stop panicking at the start of the competition,” said Farida. “After that, I got used to it as time went on and I spelled out more words.” 

Farida was in shock about her win, snagging the prized achievement through the correct spelling of “perpendicularity.” To celebrate, she got ice cream with her family, in addition to her award certificate and a Barnes & Noble gift card that was awarded to each student who earned first, second and third place. 

As the winner of the CMS Spelling Bee, Farida will move onto the County Bee next month with plans to prepare through similar practice methods. If she wins at the County Bee, Farida will enter the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. No matter the result, she is excited to join the CMS competition again next year as an 8th grader!   

Stephanie R.  

Stephanie, an 8th grade honors student, achieved an astounding runner up place in the CMS Spelling Bee. She credits her twin sister and CMS English Language Arts Teacher, Mr. Crowley, who both played a large role in helping her prepare for the competition.  

Her practice consisted of a flashcard method introduced to her by Mr. Crowley, in which she went through the entire list of words that ranged from 1st to 8th grade. While she needed to overcome some obstacles along the way, such as finding the perfect balance between her duties at home while also trying to study, Stephanie was more than ready when the time came.  

“It was a nerve-wracking moment for me when I was on stage in front of my peers, but I slowly loosened up as we went through more words,” she said. “It was my time to show them what I can do.” 

Stephanie developed a liking towards her Language Arts class this year, especially learning about writing narratives and the MLA method. While the word “incandescent” stumbled her at the very end, she was extremely proud to make it as far as she did! 

Victoria R.  

Victoria, an 8th grader at CMS, landed as the second runner up of the event and lauded the generous support she had before and during the competition. While preparing, her older brother helped her practice by reading each word in a categorized list to her. When Victoria went on stage, a close friend was allowed to sit behind her as a designated ‘hype person’ to cheer for her throughout the event.  

She was nervous at first but gained her confidence after one to two rounds.  

“I really want to thank the multiple teachers who motivated and supported me leading up to the competition as well, such as Mr. Sanders, Mr. Leh, Mrs. Barrows and Mr. Heiser,” said Victoria. “They were all so helpful throughout the process.” 

Awesome work, Farida, Stephanie and Victoria! 

From trivia to a DIY math-themed ornament, spelling bees, and holiday movie screenings, the students-turned-teachers used the day before winter break to create lesson plans that would satisfy their students’ need for creativity.

Mrs. Gonda, an academic support instructor, partnered with co-teacher Mrs. Barrows to give two students a chance to pair up and work together to teach their class for the day.

“It was a unique opportunity for students to be in charge of their own education,” said Ms. Gonda. “Instead of being told what to do, they made the plans. Plus, the proceeds directly benefited student experiences.”

Mr. Wiggins, a math teacher and BBHS alumnus, swapped spots with his student Jafet and helped him navigate minor hiccups that could happen any day in the teaching profession.

“We planned to use Blooket [a popular education-based trivia and review game] today but had to change our plans when the server stopped working,” said Jafet Nararro. “As a student, I had a good sense of what they would need before the break and decided to take a fun approach.”

“It was a fun learning experience for the teachers too,” said Mr. Wiggins. “I think it was a great way to build a community between the teachers and students. Plus, it gave students a taste of teaching and the opportunity to showcase their leadership skills.”

For the first time in recent memory, CMS held the fan-favorite event as a raffle to raise funds for student activities like the trip to Washington, D.C., and Medieval Times. Students who entered had the chance to assume the role of an admired teacher, security officer, assistant principal, and even the principal.

Sonia Hinnawi exchanged roles with Dr. Santicerma, principal of CMS. “My sister did this about seven years ago when she went to CMS,” Sonia said. “Although I got picked for other placements, I decided it be fun to continue that tradition.”

Lorena Reyes, who took on the title of assistant principal from Ms. Leunig, walked the school with Sonia. The pair said leading the school was fun, but ultimately the positions came with much responsibility.

“The students and staff always enjoy this fundraiser,” said Mr. Santicerma. “It gets a lot of our school involved and we’re glad the tradition is back at CMS.”

Next up Lafayette Elementary School will be holding “Principal or Counselor for a Day Contest” on February 6!

“When I was in 7th grade, I wanted to be in the math honors class, and I felt I deserved to be there, but the teacher said my (state) scores did not qualify me,” Wiggins said. “That made me just push myself to get better.”   

By 8th grade, Wiggins made it into that honors class. The following year he enrolled in the Bound Brook School District’s Biomedical Science Program at the high school. The classes were challenging. But, with the patience and encouragement of his math teachers, the former Bound Brook High School Crusader succeeded. By his senior year, he knew he wanted to be a math teacher.   

Now with a total of two years of instruction under his belt, Wiggins is eager to be a part of the “Bound to Astound” team that helped develop him into the person he is today. Indeed, that spirit motivates Wiggins to make learning positive, fun, and adventurous, using everything from scavenger hunts to real-life scenarios to bring his lessons to life.

“Math is being taught differently right now, even from when I was a kid,” the 25-year-old Rutgers University graduate said. “Seeing students come up with their own way of doing it, within the parameters of the rules, is exciting. I like seeing how each student works it out, expressing it in their own way.”  

Wiggins uses project-based learning in his classroom. Project-based learning is a student-centered approach that involves more active exploration of real-world challenges and problems. 

During one of Wiggins’ classes, students walked around the room, searching for and answering math problems, while in another, they created boats out of popsicle sticks to determine the speed of travel and which design would float. Wiggins, a basketball coach at the high school, even had students in one class take free throws and calculate the percentages of their successful shots.  

“It gets them moving around instead of just sitting at a desk all the time,” Wiggins said. “I like to switch things up a little bit and plan interactive activities to keep the students engaged.”  

These alternative ways of delivering instruction are part of Wiggins’ teaching style and an extension of his self-described “down-to-earth” personality. He added that as an educator, teaching is not just about instruction.  

“I really try to give my students all of myself,” Wiggins said. “I feel I am very authentic as a person, and I hope the students can genuinely see that I have their best interests in mind.”  

Like many educators, Wiggins basks in seeing that “ah-ha” moment students experience when they understand a lesson. It’s likely why he can’t yet see himself doing anything else for years to come. After all, it is, as he said, “kind of why I do this.” 

The Bound Brook School District invites the community to discuss the district’s future through three Strategic Planning sessions. Our first meeting will take place on Thursday, February 1. 

The district’s Strategic Plan is used to communicate and outline our goals, mission, vision, values, and strategic initiatives over five years. Students, staff, parents, board members, and the broader community will work together to shape a plan for the district’s future. 

“This is an exciting time in the Bound Brook School District as we collaborate with the community to chart a purposeful path forward,” said Dr. Alvin Freeman, Superintendent of Schools. “A Strategic Plan establishes a clear and shared understanding of our district’s intentional steps for the next several years. As we prioritize our district goals, we realize feedback from our neighbors, community members, friends, teachers, and students is vital. Together with these stakeholders, we will create a shared vision for the successful future of the Bound Brook School District.” 

The first strategic planning session will take place on Thursday, Feb. 1. The following meetings will take place Wednesday, Feb. 21, and Monday, March 11. All three meetings will begin at 6 p.m. in the Bound Brook High School cafeteria.  

The New Jersey School Boards Association will facilitate each session to guide the district and community in developing goals and objectives to move the district forward. Community members will have an opportunity to provide input on future direction as well as current strengths and needs of the district. 

Please RSVP using this registration link. The full invitation handout is also available.  

Join us in this exciting process to shape the path forward for the Bound Brook School District!