Paramus Celebrates Its Educators, Students' Achievements

Monday was a night of celebration of the Paramus School District's committment to success in education as the Board honored students for academic and musical achievements and a number of its own educators for their work and dedication.

Members of the school community filed into the Board of Education meeting room to witness the honorees receive their awards and certificates.

One teacher from each of the district's eight schools received the 2012-2013 Bergen County Teacher Recognition Awards for their hard work and personal dedication.

The honored teachers are:

• Michael Kukla - Memorial Elementary School
• Christanthi Youssis Belegrinos - Midland Elementary School
• Jean Mulholland - Parkway Elementary School
• Debra Hodge - Ridge Ranch Elementary School
• Kristen Scrivens - Stony Lane Elementary School
• Barbara Litwinka - East Brook Middle School
• Christian Mazzo - West Brook Middle School
• Heather Corey - Paramus High School

Nine Paramus educators were honored for being with the disrict for 25 years.

The honored teachers are:

• Mark Cuviello - West Brook Middle School
• William Decker - Paramus High School
• Susan Kenney - Memorial Elementary School
• Caroline Kundriat - Midland Elementary School
• Kathryn Looney - Memorial Elementary School
• Susan Picarielo - West Brook Middle School
• Charles Tussi - Paramus High School
• Diane Vershasselt - East Brook Middle School
• Judith Wilkes - Paramus High School

Paramus High School junior Michael Piquero was presented with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for outstanding leadership.

Music students Krishna Patel and Benjamin Jen were recognized for competing in the Williamsburg Music Festival where they received the Heritage Music Festival Maestro Award. Patel was honored for marimba/choir and Jen for soprano saxophone/band.

Midland Elementary School media specialist Robert Marion was honored for having been selected to receive the Bergen County Council of PTAs Teacher Fellowship Award.