Somerset Hills Schools Honor Educators of the Year

The Somerset Hills Board of Education last Wednesday announced the 2013 Educators of the Year at each of the district's three schools, and publicly recognized each.

The principals at each school building announced the names at the school board's meeting on Wednesday night.

They include Melissa Leonard, a fourth grade teacher at the Marion T. Bedwell Elementary School; Kimberly Flynn, literacy teacher at the Bernardsville Middle School; and Bernards High School English teacher Allison Snyder.

Here is what each of the principals had to say about this year's three honored educators:

Amy Phelan, Bedwell principal, said of Melissa Leonard, "Mrs. Leonard has proven herself as a respected educator who performs her duties enthusiastically each and every day. She fosters respect within the classroom amongst her students and promotes a learning environment where children want to help each other succeed.

"She a stellar teacher who understands and utilizes best practices in instruction. Mrs. Leonard supports, yet challenges her students to be independent learners and thinkers. She consistently establishes a creative, motivating, learning-focused classroom. It is so easy to see that Mrs. Leonard loves what she does and her love of teaching and learning is passed along to each of her students.

"She encourages children to do their very best and is always there with a kind word to promote their confidence and to suggest a path that she thinks will build their self-esteem as they grow as learners."

Lynn Kratz, principal at Bernardsville Middle School, said, "Ms. Kim Flynn has been teaching literacy at Bernardsville Middle School since 2001. In the 12 years she has been here, Ms. Flynn has demonstrated an energy, dedication and compassion for her students that leaves them with a lasting impression, long after they have left the classroom.

"Ms. Flynn dedicates a great deal of her personal time to meet with students who may be struggling in her class, as well as other classes. She is diligent in contacting her student’s parents, not only when there is a concern, but just as often to commend their performance in her class.  Ms. Flynn makes it a priority to get to know her students, and is often found eating lunch with them.

"Ms. Flynn is very creative in the delivery of her lesson. She demonstrates an enthusiasm that is contagious to her students, motivating them to reach their fullest potential.

"One parent stated, 'Ms. Flynn has endless energy and her students respond to that. Her classroom assignments are great and hone in on the literary skills needed to become proficient. When students enjoy a class, it speaks volumes for that teacher.'"

Scott Neigel, principal at Bernards High, said, "Mrs. [Allison] Snyder has been working in the district since 2008 as an English/Special Education teacher at the high school. Mrs. Snyder has taught all levels of classes, pioneered the College Readiness and Leadership Development course, founded the Book Club, advised the ninth to 11ths grade classes, taught multiple PDI courses for faculty, and moderated the Pinnacle, the BHS literary magazine, for the past three years. 

"In her classroom, Mrs. Snyder is engaging, enthusiastic, and caring, always challenging her students to reach their full potential. She exudes a true passion for literature and is always trying to develop a love of reading in her students.  This has led to the creation of a substantial classroom 'library' from which students can select, and take home, casual reading books that are not assigned in class. 

"Mrs. Snyder utilizes multiple methods of instruction to reach all learners and seeks to make the content relevant to her students’ lives. 

"Outside the classroom, Mrs. Snyder has continued her efforts to promote reading at BHS through her volunteer work as the advisor to the Book Club.  There are over 75 students who regularly participate in these early morning discussions about chosen books. The club even ran a book drive for victims of Superstorm Sandy, collecting over 2500 books for shipment to affected areas.

"Additionally, as the advisor to The Pinnacle, Mrs. Snyder has helped our students’ work be recognized as the Outstanding Creative Writing publication for the past two years.

"Mrs. Snyder contributes to Bernards High School far beyond the walls of her classroom. Her enthusiasm, dedication and loyalty to our students are to be commended. We are thrilled to congratulate Mrs. Snyder as the 2013 Somerset Hills Educational Professional of the year for Bernards High School."