'It's a Matter of Pride' for Lacey's Top Teachers

A recurring theme among the Lacey Township’s six Teachers of the Year is how much they care about the success of their students.

On May 9th, the Lacey Township Board of Education will honor Brian Stike, Linda Kirk, Moya DeMartino, Darlene Price, Brenda Camaligan and JoAnne Applegate at a ceremony, awarding them plaques, flowers, and Barnes and Noble gift certificates.

Vanessa P. Clark, Ph.D., Lacey Township Schools Assistant Superintendent, said Mrs. Applegate, Mrs. Camaligan, Mrs. Price, Mrs. DeMartino, Mrs. Kirk, and Mr. Stike are exemplary of the Lacey Township School District motto: "It's a Matter of Pride!"

“All six of our Teachers of the Year are highly dedicated professionals who are well-deserving of this recognition,” said Clark. “Although their individual teaching styles are as varied as their backgrounds and disciplines, they all share the common goal of providing students with a quality education in an environment that is caring, creative, innovative, and efficient.”

Lacey Township participates in the Ocean County Teacher Recognition Program, this year sponsored by the Ocean First Foundation. Each school in the township formed a Teacher of the Year Committee made up of administrators, teachers and parents, which nominated three candidates and forwarded those names to a district selection committee, consisting of Board of Education members, teachers, administrators and parents. The district committee selected one candidate from each school, based on various criteria, including effectiveness, quality of instruction, and relationship with students and staff.

Brian Stike, Lacey Township High School’s theater and performing arts teacher, said he feels one of his greatest strengths is communicating with his students.

“I set high goals and expectations for them and help them strive to achieve success,” said Stike. “My students always tell me that I’m ‘never satisfied’ and continually push them further. This is indeed a compliment because I help many students achieve what they thought they were incapable of achieving.”

Linda Kirk, a language arts teachers at Lacey Township Middle School, said it is important to recognize students’ strengths both in and out of the classroom.

“I endeavor to promote a positive classroom atmosphere, increase student achievement and further my professional learning opportunities,” said Kirk. “As a parent of school-aged children and a Lacey Township resident, I am not just a teacher, I am a stakeholder in the educational process in our town.”

Lanoka Harbor Elementary School’s Gifted and Talented teacher, Darlene Price, is a former student at the school who has been with the district for 14 years. She said her proudest accomplishment was establishing the school’s chess program in memory of student Christopher Blozen -- an avid chess player-- who passed away in 2007. The school program grew into a county-wide tournament, with 64 students from all over the county set to compete this year.

Price said, as a teacher, she strives to help her students develop the advanced skills and processes necessary to enable them to become sustained, self-directed learners.

“I am very humbled by my students’ accomplishments and all they can achieve at such a young age,” she said. “I take great pleasure in celebrating their successes and am very proud and fortunate to be their teacher.”

‘Never go to bed without learning something new’ is Brenda Camaligan’s philosophy. The Forked River Elementary School’s combined third and fourth grade class completed her Masters Degree in December 2010 and has shared her joy of lifelong learning with her class.

“My classroom naturally promotes a sense of family where students can challenge themselves, ask questions and share ideas,” said Camaligan, also a Lacey resident. “I believe education is not just about teaching the curriculum, but also helping the child grow socially and emotionally.”

Camaligan will attend the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers’ Academy in July at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. She was one of 200 third through fifth grade teachers selected from more than 1,500 applicants nationwide. The focus of the week-long program will be on innovative ideas for teaching science and math.

Cedar Creek Elementary School Guidance Counselor JoAnne Applegate has worked in the Lacey School District for 30 years. She previously taught Health and Physical Education at Lacey Middle School and then at Cedar Creek. In her current position, she created new programs, such as the whole school Character Education Program.

Applegate said she loves the children she works with and feels she has a good relationship with them.

“I look forward to going to school each and every day,” she said. “I enjoy teaching the children about friendship, respect and responsibility. I greet the students as they come in off the buses each morning and their smiles and energy are uplifting.”

Moya DeMartino is a fifth-grade teacher at Mill Pond Elementary School. DeMartino did not immediately return calls to comment.

The six Lacey teachers will be considered for the title of County Teacher of the Year, with that winner going on to represent Ocean County in the State Teacher of the Year competition.