WEST MILFORD — Each year, the West Milford School District names its teacher of the year from eight nominees, one from each district school. This year, high school teacher Karen Johnson was selected. Here are the other seven teachers who were named their building's teacher of the year, with comments from their building principals.
William Kochis, Apshawa School
William Kochis is in his third year teaching in West Milford. He is an energetic, creative, and dedicated teacher who instills a love of learning among his young students. He continually encourages his students to reflect on their own learning and make positive contributions to the classroom community. Through engaging lessons, he develops their reading, writing, and mathematics skills while creating a caring, supportive classroom environment for each individual. Kochis infuses technology into his daily lessons to motivate his students and deepen their understanding of concepts in all subjects. Beyond the classroom, Mr. Kochis advises the Student Council, which plans fund raisers and school spirit events for the entire school community. He also serves on several professional committees, helping to improve the district's programs. Kochis is an asset to the West Milford School system and we are very proud of his many accomplishments so early in his teaching career at Apshawa School.
Leslie Finke, Macopin
Over her seventeen year career, Leslie Finke has always been a person of high character and professionalism. Her ability to make it through each day with a smile on her face and with an upbeat, positive attitude serves as an inspiration to her colleagues. Finke is renowned for developing lessons that have practical application to all of her students. She works well with her colleagues and has a great rapport with her students. She is always striving to reach students on a level with which they are comfortable. She participates in school-wide initiatives and overnight class trips. In addition to the numerous committees on which she serves, Finke is co-advisor to Macopin's Peer Mediators and the chairperson for our Promotion Ceremony.
Justin Runne, Maple Road School
Justin Runne is a fifth grade teacher at Maple Road School who contributes to the school community in many ways. He effectively collaborates with colleagues and parents to foster unique learning opportunities for his students. Always a promoter of science education, Runne has recently partnered with West Milford Township High School biology teacher, Coleen Weiss-Magasic, to bridge elementary and high school science exploration. Their Swimming Upstream Project, funded through an NJEA HIPP grant, partners elementary and high school students in monitoring the development of trout in the classroom and the study of the local stream ecosystems. In addition, Runne lead a successful TREP$ program this year for our fifth and sixth grade student entrepreneurs, and he is an instructor for the Maple Road School Mustang Movers academic support club. Runne is continually looking for ways to make learning fun and accessible for his students inside or outside of the classroom.
Jason Benz, Marshall Hill
Marshall Hill congratulates Jason Benz who has been selected as Teacher of the Year for Marshall Hill School. Benz has been a health and physical education teacher at Marshall Hill School for eight years. He truly represents our school well with his humanitarian efforts (Jump Rope for Heart & Walk for Diabetes), his expertise in technology, his efforts developing our character education program, his ongoing thematic Field Day, and Scooter Football after school program. He has a teaching style that fully engages all students in learning. Additionally, his enthusiasm for learning and teaching extends to faculty members as he has prepared and presented numerous workshops. Benz has also received the Governor's recognition award during the 2011-2012 school year.
Jessica Cohen, Paradise Knoll
Congratulations to Mrs. Jessica Cohen, Paradise Knoll Teacher of the Year! Currently serving as a second grade teacher, Cohen is a dynamic, caring educator who works tirelessly to meet the diverse needs of all students in her classroom.
Cohen is an alumnus of the West Milford School District. She graduated from Montclair State University and recently finished her masters in Educational Technology from Ramapo College.
Cohen is an active member of the teaching staff at Paradise Knoll. She also serves as the producer of the West Milford High School Musical. Cohen has been teaching for six years, and in those six years has been lucky enough to teach sixth, third and second grade students as well as Kindergarten students. We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated educator as part of our PK community. Great job Mrs. Cohen!
Krista Yuhas, Upper Greenwood Lake
Krista Yuhas has been a Resource Center teacher at the Upper Greenwood Lake School for the last seven years. Her professionalism and dedication to students has been the foremost focus of her career and works tirelessly to meet the needs of each and every one of her students. She contributes to a positive school culture in many ways. Yuhas can often be seen volunteering for extra-curricular responsibilities, wearing a costume for our Halloween Parade, or taking extra time with a student who needs help. Most recently, she was selected as one of five teachers district-wide to participate in an intensive Orton-Gillingham Phonetic Reading Program training course in a collaborative effort with the Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Regina Canali, Westbrook
Regina Canali has been employed at Westbrook School as a first grade teacher since 2005. She received her bachelor of science in education degree from Seton Hall University after majoring in elementary education. She received her master in the art of teaching degree, plus another 30 credits, from Marygrove College of Detroit. She is a certified elementary school and nursery school teacher.
Canali is best known for being an official and unofficial mentor to many. She has served in the official capacity of Cooperating Teacher for two student teachers and the Mentor Teacher for several new primary staff. All remark they felt lucky to have been under her tutelage.
Canali’s most notable accomplishment is not from a specific award or degree. It is the consistent continuum of very strong endorsements she receives from the parents of her students year after year, from the students who adore her and learn so much from her, and from her colleagues in the teaching profession who nominated her for this honor. Her quiet, kind, patient, and poised demeanor, blended with her dedication and knowledge, form the basis of her extraordinarily effective teaching style.