By Andrew Martins, Managing Editor
Fourteen staff members at Hillsborough School District were recently recognized for their work with the township’s schoolchildren over the last year., During the Jan. 30 Board of Education meeting, administrators from each of the district’s nine schools took time to introduce and describe each recipient of the Teacher of the Year or Educational Services Professional of the Year award., “This is a group of professionals who dedicate themselves to support their students, peers and school communities,” Superintendent Dr. Jorden Schiff said. “It is an honor to work with these and the hundreds of other excellent staff members throughout the district.”, Of the 14 chosen, nine were teachers and five were staff members who support the educational objectives of the district., Since November, parents, teachers and colleagues nominated potential recipients. Once submitted, a committee from each school chose a teacher of the year from each building, two co-ESPs of the year from the six elementary schools and an ESP of the year from Hillsborough High School, Hillsborough Middle School and Auten Road Intermediate School., During the meeting, officials announced the following teachers as recipients: Amsterdam Elementary School first grade teacher Kelly Mehring; Hillsborough Elementary School physical education teacher Sarina Rutz; Sunnymead Elementary School fourth grade teacher Nancy Levinski; Triangle Elementary School LLD teacher Courtney Kuboski; Woodfern Elementary School second grade teacher Joseph Dugan; Woods Road Elementary School special education teacher Marybeth Jordan, Auten Road Intermediate School special education teacher Rita Mishikitis; Hillsborough Middle School eighth grade literacy teacher Christina Simons; and Hillsborough High School special education teacher Tracey Jameson., Along with their teacher counterparts, the district announced the following ESPs who also received recognition: Triangle Elementary School speech and language pathologist Nicole Shahinian; Woods Road Elementary School psychologist Meagan Ludwig; Auten Road Intermediate School counselor Patricia Brower; Hillsborough Middle School nurse Krista Williams; and Hillsborough High School student assistance counselor Gil Pilarte., Following the presentation of awards to each of this year’s recipients, Dr. Schiff said he was proud of the work that goes on at the district, touting the efforts of everyone involved., “We have hundreds of teachers and staff in Hillsborough who work tirelessly for their students,” Dr. Schiff said., Following their selection as the district’s teachers and support staff of the year, each person is now eligible to be considered for the same honor at the county level. If selected to represent Somerset County, they will then go on to the state level as part of the 2016-17 Governor’s Educator of the Year program.
