Sussex County Celebrates a Successful School Year, Honors the County Teacher of the Year

The Sussex County School Boards Association met on May 8 at the Newton Country Club in Newton. SCSBA First Vice President Ronald Hoffman (who is the vice president of the Hardyston Township Board of Education) called the meeting to order and welcomed all the attendees, virtually and in person, to the year’s final Sussex County SBA meeting.

He introduced Dr. Gayle Carrick, executive county superintendent, who delivered updates from the New Jersey Department of Education. The update was followed by an update from Kelly Mitchell, field service representative at the New Jersey School Boards Association, and an NJSBA Governmental Relations Update from Jonathan Pushman, director of governmental relations at NJSBA.

Dr. Kimberly Sigman, chief school administrator of the Hamburg School District, had the honor of introducing Tara Scrittore, the 2023-2024 Sussex County Teacher of the Year. Scrittore shared an appropriate and timely message to the SCSBA members on how collaboration between stakeholders improves public education. Dr. Scott D. Ripley, superintendent of schools for the High Point Regional School District, shared his thoughts on “Educational Apartheid: Harming Student Self-Efficacy by Denying Access.”

Dr. Tom Connors, NJSBA vice president for finance, attended and offered warm greetings on behalf of the NJSBA. Connors was accompanied by Marie Bilik, NJSBA Board of Directors delegate, who provided a comprehensive report of the NJSBA Board of Directors meeting. 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 Sussex County.