The Alternative Press

WESTFIELD, NJ — Think your intermediate school student has a fantastic teacher? You’ve got until April 19 to nominate him or her for The Optimist Club of Westfield’s 16th Annual Intermediate School Outstanding Teacher Award. Two intermediate school teachers – one from Edison Intermediate School and one from Roosevelt Intermediate School – will be chosen to receive the award on May 8 at an Optimist Club dinner. They will also be honored at a Westfield Board of Education meeting in June.

Letters of nomination should specify ways in which the teacher has demonstrated outstanding teaching, interest in children and continued pursuit of professional growth. To qualify, the nominee must have served as a full-time teacher in the Westfield Public School District in grades six through eight for a minimum of five years.

Students, parents and staff are encouraged to submit nominations to: Outstanding Teacher Award Committee of the Optimist Club of Westfield, c/o Office of the Superintendent, Westfield Public Schools, 302 Elm St., Westfield, NJ 07090.Or email your letter to optiaward@westfieldnjk12.org.

 “The Outstanding Teacher Award gives deserving credit to our intermediate school teachers who provide an educationally stimulating and supporting environment during the critical stage of adolescence,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Margaret Dolan in a press release.

In addition to this award, The Optimist Club of Westfield supports the schools and children through Project Graduation, the Freshmen Service Project, Oratorical Contest, Hands-on Science, the Congressional Seminar and Global Environment Scholarships and as a co-sponsor for the Halloween Haunted House.

Previous winners of the award from Edison include Kristi Houghtaling, Kristine Smith-Morasso, Robert Sanders, Walter Buda, David Shapiro, Nancy Rygiel, Gloria White-James, Robert Hild, Marni Kirschenbaum, Janice Sheridan, Kathleen Zippler, Teresa Squillace, David Greer, Alexandra Boutsikaris and Michael Altmann.

Roosevelt teachers who have been honored with the Optimist award include Lynne Gerber, Stephanie Kwiatkowski, Laura Segedin, Frank Nolde, Walter Buda, Thomas Reynolds, Wendy Masteller, Jack Martin, Karen Lust, Linda Vail, Elizabeth Scheuerer, Glen Kurz, Jeffrey Robbins, Dona Panagos, Marc Biunno and Denis McMorrow.