Marlboro school district salutes veteran educators

MARLBORO - Employees retiring from the Marlboro K-8 School District were recognized at the Board of Educa-tion's March 21 meeting.

Helene Gulkis has taught in the Marlboro school district for 25 years during which time she has taught social studies, language arts and math to fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders at Robertsville Elementary, Marlboro Middle and Frank Defino Central Elementary schools.

According to information provided by the district, Gulkis' love of learning and teaching has benefited every student who has attended one of her classes.

"Her generosity of time and her energy and knowledge have been invaluable to the many school and district committees on which she has served," administrators said.

Alice Richter, a language arts teacher at Marlboro Memorial Middle School, has been teaching in the district for 29 years. Administrators said she is known for her energy, creativity and devotion to her students' success.

"Richter's students know they are someplace extraordinary as they enter her colorful classroom to explore topics from the structure of the English language to the nature of humanity," district officials said.

Maryanne Malach has been a highly respected member of the science department at Marlboro Middle School and Marlboro Memorial Middle School for 22 years.

According to information provided by the district, "Malach personifies professionalism. Her humor and joy for life define who she is as a person. To know her is to admire her."

Malach has provided her students with the best hands-on science education and has exposed them to the fascination and appreciation of the real world in which they live, district officials said.

Arlyne Marks will be retiring at the end of the year after a career as a special education teacher for the past 23 years in the Marlboro school district. She has taught at Frank Defino Central Elementary School and Robertsville Elementary School.

Marks' ability to blend academic rigor with understanding and compassion became the hallmarks of her outstanding reputation. She always demonstrated a wonderful sense of what children needed to succeed, administrators said.

James Carrigan will be retiring from the district after 41 years as a physical education teacher, a coach for numerous sports and an activities director.

During his years in the district, Carrigan, along with Ferris Antoon, created the Monmouth County Inter-mediate School Soccer League, which was renamed in 2005 to the Antoon-Carrigan ICSSL.

As a coach, Carrigan's team won championships in 2005 in soccer, basketball and track. He has recently been elected as president of the Shore High School Basketball Officials.

According to district officials, Carrigan is the first activities coordinator in Marlboro Middle School history and was instrumental in ensuring that Marlboro Memorial Middle School had a successful beginning to its activities program.

Patricia Carrigan, Jim's wife, will also be retiring from the district after 39 years as a sixth-grade social studies teacher.

Administrators said Carrigan has made a significant and lasting contribution to the district with her participation on numerous committees. Her expertise, sense of humor and professionalism have benefited the students and staff members whose lives she has touched, officials said.