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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.” 

The summer boost program at Smalley Elementary School is one of those initiatives. 

During the month-long program, students in grades K-6 get the chance to boost their academics in mathematics and English Language Arts while engaging in specials like STEM, art and physical education.  

With a firm commitment to student development and using a proactive approach to summer learning, the program uses a variety of classes to provide small-group instruction where students can enhance skills alongside their teachers.  

Bound Brook teacher Megan Esposito emphasized the positive impact it has on students who can reinforce skills as they prepare for the new school year. 

“One thing that I’ve been working on with my students is measurement and data,” she said. “We are trying to really reinforce some of those skills that we might not have been able to work on a lot throughout the school year, and we’re going to help them prepare for the next grade.” 

Every morning, students rotate between academics and specials. During specials, a unique cycle gives students a chance to experiment through hands-on STEM projects like building houses for robot dogs and creating their very own Innovator’s Workshop. Art and physical education promote creativity and wellness through other activities like painting animal masks and playing baseball inside the gymnasium.  

Jacob B., a rising seventh grader, praised the variety of activities, especially building art projects.  

“The one thing I like about summer program is the art class because we get to have fun and build things like animal faces and robotics. I also like to build paper swords in the class,” he said.  

In addition, the program is offered to bilingual students who can enrich their language acquisition inside the classroom with teachers who speak their native language. 

Teacher leaders Jennifer Derevjanik and Jill Goldan played a large role in getting the program started. They order materials before the start date, roster all students, and ensure that all processes run smoothly. Each day, both help students get their breakfast and lunch, transition them between classrooms, and assist in scheduling alongside Robyn Griffin, Bound Brook’s Chief Academic Officer.  

“The best thing about the summer program is that students still get to see their friends from the regular school year, maintain a routine and especially continue to interact in a small group environment with their teachers to boost their academics,” said Derevjanik.  

The summer program is one of multiple opportunities offered by the district to enhance each student’s academic growth while interacting with their peers daily.  

Mr. Ralph DeSordi, teacher of Physical Education/Health, helped to coordinate this year’s event with each homeroom from 3rd to 6th grade. From May 20 to June 14, students represented a wide range of countries like Colombia, Germany, Australia, England and more.

“The Smalley Olympics is a combination of all the different sports and activities we’ve completed throughout the school year,” said Mr. DeSordi. “Occasionally, we change the theme. Last year, we called it March Madness and let students pick a specific college. This year, I let each homeroom elect what country they want to represent. They picked a country and then competed during PE class while supporting and cheering for each other.”

Classes competed during regular Physical Education class periods, earning points for their performance during games of volleyball, soccer, and other sporting activities. Students could also earn points based on good sportsmanship (toward referees, opponents, and teammates) and team spirit (making signs, creating chants, etc.)—bonus points were awarded to classes with the most students wearing their country’s colors during PE.

Gym walls were covered with hand-drawn country flags, while other students brought their own to excitedly wave during the event. For each student, the Smalley Olympics was an opportunity to engage in a friendly competition with their friends while playing their favorite sports.

“My favorite part about the Smalley Olympics is the teamwork and all the fun we have,” said Damiana, a sixth grader at Smalley Elementary
School. “We also play all the sports and get some quality bonding time with our classmates.”

Upon reaching the finale, staff members worked together to host a closing ceremony known as Flag Day. Teacher representatives from each
homeroom were invited to join the fun by participating in “minute to win it” activities before the awards were given out.

Bound Brook School District congratulates the following homerooms who were recognized from each grade level:

Third Grade

• Australia – Ms. Sivolella & Ms. Glassman’s Homeroom

Fourth Grade

• Netherlands – Ms. Little’s Homeroom

Fifth Grade

• Norway – Ms. Ptack & Ms. Kifer’s Homeroom

Sixth Grade

• Germany – Ms. Tacconi’s Homeroom

Angeline P.  

As the first-place winner, sixth-grader Angeline thanks her mother who helped her practice leading up to the competition, even when she was a bit stressed. Despite the nerves during the event, her excitement to do well landed her the top spot by spelling “incandescent” correctly on the first try! 

As the Champion of Smalley’s spelling bee, Angeline will enter the County Bee next month in hopes to continue her winning streak. If Angeline wins the County Bee, she will be entered to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. 

Frankie C. 

Fifth-grader Frankie earned his place as the runner-up of the competition with cool stride and pride. While admitting to a few nervesabout being involved, he was determined to do his best and spent many hours preparing through hard work and studying. Through his perseverance, Frankie’s award is now proudly framed and displayed inside his home thanks to his grandmother.  

Carsen D.  

Fourth-grader Carsen celebrated his second runner-up recognition with his classmates, who all watched the competition virtually and cheered for him once he returned to the classroom! Carsen dedicated his preparation for the competition through dictionary studying and plenty of tutoring. Outside of classwork, Carsen is involved with plenty of extracurricular activities at Smalley like the Art Club and Gardening Club.  

Way to go, Angeline, Frankie and Carsen! 

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! 

Learn more about Smalley’s new principal and what drew her to the Bound Brook School District, including her inspiration for becoming a school principal and what the new role means to her.   

Please tell us your educational background and what your role was prior to becoming a principal at Smalley.  

I am an ELA teacher at heart! I taught 8th grade language arts and was a reading specialist before coming to Bound Brook. My passion is finding “just right books” for reluctant readers. Prior to working in Bound Brook, I was the principal of a K-4 building in Jersey City.  

What made you want to work at Bound Brook? 

I live in Middlesex! Working in Jersey City was quite a commute. I was looking for a school where I could be part of the community. I am so excited to live close and be able to come to the soccer games and after school events. I lived in Costa Rica, too. When I learned that Bound Brook has a large Costa Rican population, I fell even more in love.  

What inspired you to become a school principal? 

I became a teacher very young. I started at only 20 years old. In my experience, I have had wonderful principals and not so wonderful ones. I entered education for my love of teaching. I entered administration to help support teachers.  

What are you most looking forward to this school year? 

Meeting the families and the students! 

What do you like to do in your spare time? 

I love running with my dog, Luigi. We have been running together for almost seven years!  

Is there anything else you would like the school community to know about you? 

I love my job. I love coming to school, I love being at school, and I love being a part of the school community. I even love seeing my students at Target and Home Depot! I am very excited to be here and am always available to talk.