The Manchester Township School District participates annually in the New Jersey Teacher of the Year and Educational Service Professional Recognition Program. Today, Superintendent of Schools, John Berenato proudly presented each of the building’s two winners with a commemorative flower and certificate celebrating their 2023 Teacher of the Year and Educational Service Professional of the Year wins, respectively. 

      Congratulations to Manchester Township High School’s Teacher of the Year Tracy Racioppi and Educational Service Professional of the year Kate Colon, Manchester Township Middle School’s Teacher of the Year Darla Lanza and Educational Service Professional of the Year Kim Fink, Manchester Township Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year Melissa Nazaro and Educational Service Professional of the Year Chelsie Castronuovo, Ridgeway Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year Robyn Palmer and Educational Service Professional of the Year JoAnn Delahanty, Whiting Elementary’s Teacher of the Year Paulina Rapciewicz and Educational Service Professional of the Year Donna Cavallo and Regional Day School’s Teacher of the Year Kimberly Peel and Educational Service Professional of the Year Haley Lindquist. 

     “It is a great privilege to present our educators with the honor of being named Teacher of the Year and Educational Service Professional of Year,” says John Berenato, Superintendent of Schools. “Through this honor, these wonderful educators of ours are set apart by their colleagues and school community as being the best among the best.  We are proud of the dedication and heart that the Manchester Township School District’s staff pours into their jobs as educators and caring professionals.” 

     The New Jersey Teacher of the Year and Educational Service Professional Recognition Program acknowledges school professionals who are nominated by their colleagues as someone who goes above and beyond by being dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference in their school buildings.  Director of Student Personnel Services, Alex George, organizes the initiative for the school district and guides the school buildings on the process that is required by the State in order for Manchester Schools to participate.  Each school building formed a committee, overseen by the school building Principal, that consisted of the school building Principal, last year’s Teacher of the Year, a building administrator, parent and one other teacher chosen after nominations are in, to avoid conflict. A Nomination Form is then distributed to all staff for their anonymous vote. Each candidate is scored based on the State of New Jersey’s suggested criteria of: Serves as an exceptionally skilled and dedicated educator in a public or charter school; Inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn; Demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside the classroom; Has the respect and admiration of students, parents, administrators and colleagues; and plays an active role in the community as well as the school.  After the school building’s Committee verifies submissions and determines the staff submitted winners, they are then submitted to the New Jersey Department of Education to be considered for the State’s Teacher and/or Educational Service Professional of the Year. 

     Congratulations to all of Manchester Township School District’s winners of the 2023 New Jersey Teacher of the Year and Educational Service Professional Recognition Program.

     For more information, please contact Dina Silvestri at dsilvestri@mtschools.org.

Congratulations to Manchester Township High School's
Teacher of the Year Tracy Racioppi

Congratulations to Manchester Township High School’s
Educational Service Professional of the year Kate Colon

Congratulations to Manchester Township Middle School’s
Teacher of the Year Darla Lanza

Congratulations to Manchester Township Middle School’s
Educational Service Professional of the Year Kim Fink

Congratulations to Manchester Township Elementary School’s
Teacher of the Year Melissa Nazaro 

Congratulations to Manchester Township Elementary School’s 
Educational Service Professional of the Year Chelsie Castronuovo

Congratulations to Ridgeway Elementary School’s
Teacher of the Year Robyn Palmer 

Congratulations to Ridgeway Elementary School’s
Educational Service Professional of the Year JoAnn Delahanty

Congratulations to Whiting Elementary’s
Teacher of the Year Paulina Rapciewicz 

Congratulations to Whiting Elementary’s 
Educational Service Professional of the Year Donna Cavallo

Congratulations to Regional Day School’s
Teacher of the Year Kimberly Peel 

Congratulations to Regional Day School’s
Educational Service Professional of the Year Haley Lindquist