District picks Macopin educator as 'Teacher of the Year'

Macopin Middle School's Robert Callamari is the West Milford Township Public Schools Teacher of the Year for 2019-20, district officials announced Tuesday night.

The governor’s Educator of the Year Program seeks to highlight educational innovation, student achievement, the rewards of teaching, and important services outside the classroom that leads to student success.

The selected teachers represent the district in county and then statewide competitions.

Callamari, 29, was presented with a plaque during Tuesday night's Board of Education meeting, and has been teaching in the district for seven years.

He was born and raised as a West Milford resident and currently teaches US History II, both honors and college prep, at Macopin Middle School.

His credentials include a bachelor’s degree in education with a concentration in history from Nyack College and a master’s degree in education from The College of New Jersey.

He said he was inspired to become a teacher thanks to the educators he had during his time in West Milford’s school district.

“I decided to teach in general because of the incredible teachers that I had during my time as a student in the West Milford school district,” Callamari said during a brief speech at Tuesday night's meeting. “I decided to teach History in particular because of my high school History teacher, Mr. Sean Cosgrove. He had the greatest single impact on my decision to pursue a teaching career in History.”

He told the board he was grateful for the honor.

“I am humbled at the notion that my colleagues and district administration would find something in my teaching practice worth honoring,” said Callamari. “I am a product of our West Milford School District; I was taught in our halls and played sports on our fields.”

Knowledge, skills, and experience are passed down from teacher to student with each new year. Some leaving a bigger impact than others, he said.

“Anything that I have learned of teaching, anything deemed praiseworthy by the administration, anything to be recognized here tonight, must rightfully be attributed to its original source: my teachers and my coaches,” said Callamari.