For the past 25 years, The Judy and Josh Weston Awards for Excellence in Teaching have annually recognized teaches in the Montclair Public Schools for their creativity, high expectations, energy, and concern for students. This year, 15 teachers were selected to receive this prestigious award and a cash award of $2,000.
The administration of The Judy and Josh Weston Award for Excellence in Teaching is exclusively by parents. Nominations for the Weston Award are solicited from students, parents, and guardians of students currently attending the Montclair public schools. This year the committee received more than 280 nominations with 150 teachers being nominated. A selection committee of parent representatives from each school, and Judy Weston, selected the award recipients.
Mr. and Mrs. Weston announced in January that 2016 would be their final year in giving out these awards. There will be a private reception for the nominees and the winners of the Weston Awards on Monday, June 6, 2016, at 5:30 pm at the Montclair High School Annex in the Atrium. Families and staff are invited to attend the public ceremony immediately following the private reception at 6 p.m. “Please come out to support your teachers who have won this teaching excellence award,” said facilitator Beth Wilensky, “and to thank Judy and Josh Weston for their very generous support of the Montclair Public Schools over the last 25 years!”
The recipients of this year's Weston Award for Excellence in Teaching are:
Peter Von Hoffman, Math, Glenfield Middle School
Sharon Hurwich, Math, Glenfield School
Greg McGrath, Fifth Grade, Bullock School
Jamie Nanfara, Second Grade, Bullock School
Amanda Senior, 4th Grade, Hillside
Linda Garvey, Kindergarten, Northeast
Carissa Olivi, Kindergarten, Edgemont
Marilyn Pichardo, Spanish, Mount Hebron
Jerry Liddy, Fifth Grade, Bradford
Mark Stulbaum, Math, Renaissance Middle School
Gina Russo, Third Grade, Watchung
Stephanie Bowen, Second Grade, Nishuane
Gay Marcellus, Kindergarten, Nishuane
Laura Heyman, English, Montclair High School