Freehold Twp. public school staff honored

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - On June 6 the Freehold Township public schools hosted a celebration for staff members with 25 years of service, retirees with 10 or more years and Governor's Award recipients. Board of Education members, administrators, friends and family attended the event to celebrate and honor those who have provided many dedicated years of service as teachers, bus drivers, office staff and members of the child study team.

"We all share a common bond for the welfare and education of the students of Freehold Township and it has been wonderful to have you as part of our school family," said school board President Mindy Wille.

School administrators and several board members spoke to the evening's attendees about each of the honored staff members regarding their accomplishments and plans for the future. Board members also presented a resolution to each retiree and donated a book in their name to their respective school library.

Among the retirees was Rita Roessner, Spanish teacher, who had the longest service by working in the district for 39 years. Roessner began her career in the district as a French teacher and she remained for 25 years. When the district's world language changed to Spanish, she took it in stride and worked for another 14 years.

Through the years, she traveled abroad to study and perfect her language skills and worked for five different superintendents and 16 principals in seven of the district's schools. Roessner said what she will remember and appreciate most about teaching is how she touched the lives of children and was able to make a positive impression.

"The greatest thing for me is when a student comes back and says they pursued a career involving a language or when they say their high school teachers ask where they studied to have such an excellent dialect," she said.

The other retirees are Phyllis Aschenbach, Joann Belowsky, Sharon Brown, Josephine Donzelli, Anita Fisher, Susanne Flannelly, Jean Frank, Judith Fuller, Jane Grohowski, Kathleen Ingraham, Shirley Kniesler, Steven Lucas, Carol Miller, Josephine Moss, Arnold Pepe, Lynn Reich, Patricia Sfaelos, Diane Styczynski and Laura Zientek.

Those honored for 25 years of service include Suzanne Anderson, Colleen Bezanson, Susan Collins, Anita Fisher, Lynn Hoenig, Eileen Marino, Josephine Moss, Mary Pinto and Corinne Wagner.

The Governor's Educator Recognition Award recipients are Michele Weissman, Nina Codispoti, Danielle Velez, Celine McNally, Clair Lasky, Sharon Calder, Christopher Urso and Joelle Nappi.

At the end of the evening, Superintendent of Schools William Setaro led a standing ovation for the honorees and thanked them for their hard work.