Warren County School Boards Association Honors the County Teacher of the Year, Conducts Other Business

Lisa Marshall, WCSBA president, called the meeting to order.
The attendees of the WCSBA meeting at The Architect's Golf Club in Phillipsburg.
Dr. Rosalie S. Lamonte, interim executive county superintendent for Warren County, delivered updates from the New Jersey Department of Education.
Jessica Swaim, principal of Hackettstown Middle School in the Hackettstown School District, was honored to introduce the 2023-2024 Warren County Teacher of the Year.
Colleen Grzywacz, a vocal music teacher at Hackettstown Middle School in the Hackettstown School District and the 2023-2024 Warren County Teacher of the Year, shared a powerful message with the WCSBA members.
NJSBA and WCSBA officers honor the 2023-2024 Warren County Teacher of the Year.
Lisa Marshall, WCSBA president, along with Karen Cortellino, M.D., NJSBA president, and Dr. Tom Connors, NJSBA vice president for finance, presented certificates and pins to Warren County board of education members who have served 10 or 15 years on a board. Board members in photo (from left to right) are Donna Sbriscia of Franklin Township; Paul Rummerfield of Phillipsburg; Rosemarie Person of Phillipsburg; Jean Hansen of Warren Hills Regional; Jamie Hudak of Pohatcong Township; and Scott Nodes of Greenwich Township.
Rudolph DiGilio, a Franklin Township Board of Education member, is recognized with a 30-year milestone for his service on the board. WCSBA President Lisa Marshall, Dr. Tom Connors, NJSBA vice president for finance, and Karen Cortellino, M.D., NJSBA president, join him.
Many Warren County Board of Education members were recognized for their newly obtained certifications, which they received through the NJSBA Board Member Academy. Also pictured are WCSBA President Lisa Marshall, Dr. Tom Connors, NJSBA vice president for finance, Karen Cortellino, M.D., NJSBA president, and Dr. Timothy Purnell, NJSBA executive director. The board members in the photo (from left to right) are James Shelly, Certified Board Member, Phillipsburg; Molly Fraumeni, New Board Member Certification, Warren Hills Regional; and Vickie Mendes-Branch, Master Board Member Certification, Phillipsburg.
Left to right: Karen Cortellino, M.D., NJSBA president; WCSBA President Lisa Marshall; Paul Williams, who is retiring from the NJSBA board of directors; Dr. Timothy Purnell, executive director and CEO of the NJSBA; and Dr. Tom Connors, the NJSBA's vice president for finance. Attendees paid tribute to Williams's dedicated service to the board.

The Warren County School Boards Association met May 22 at The Architect’s Golf Club in Phillipsburg. WCSBA President Lisa Marshall (Warren Hills Regional) called the meeting to order and welcomed attendees, virtually and in person, to the final meeting of this school year.

Dr. Rosalie S. Lamonte, interim executive county superintendent, provided an update from the Warren County Office of Education. Gwen Thornton, field service director at the New Jersey School Boards Association, also delivered an update.

Karen Cortellino, M.D., NJSBA president, attended and offered warm greetings on behalf of the NJSBA. Dr. Timothy Purnell, NJSBA executive director and CEO; Dr. Tom Connors, NJSBA vice president for finance; and Barry Fitzgerald, NJSBA vice president for county activities, were also in attendance.

Jessica Swaim, principal at Hackettstown Middle School in the Hackettstown School District, introduced Colleen Grzywacz, the 2023-2024 Warren County Teacher of the Year. Grzywacz is a vocal music teacher at Hackettstown Middle School. She shared a powerful message on what every school board member should know from the eyes of a teacher.

Ray Pinney, lead director of member training and engagement at NJSBA, and Robert Acerra, county activities coordinator at NJSBA, presented the milestone awards and all NJSBA Board Member Academy certification recognitions, acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the board of education members in Warren County. The recognitions were followed by honoring Paul Williams, whose 12 years of service as an NJSBA board of directors’ representative ended that evening.

Vickie Mendes-Branch with the Phillipsburg Board of Education and also a member of the WCSBA Nominating Committee, presented the slate for the 2024 -2027 NJSBA board of directors and the alternate from Warren County. They are Scott Nodes, Greenwich Township Board of Education, who will serve as the member, and Jaclyn Rowbotham, Harmony Township Board of Education, who will serve as the alternate. WCSBA President Lisa Marshall conducted the elections, and Acerra performed the oath of office for Nodes and Rowbotham.