‘Superstar’ South Brunswick Teacher To Be Honored At Princeton U Commencement

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A secondary school teacher from South Brunswick will be honored for her contribution to education during Princeton University’s commencement ceremony.

Bess Spero Li of Crossroads South Middle School will receive the Princeton Prize for Distinguished Secondary School Teaching during the University’s commencement ceremony on May 28.

Li is among four teachers to receive this honor. Other recipients include Ahmed Hassanein of Joseph H. Brensinger Elementary School, Jersey City; Sandra Keel-Huff of Orange High School and Theresa Riccardi of High Point Regional High School in Sussex

They each will receive $5,000, and $3,000 for their school libraries.

Superintendent Scott Feder called Li a “superstar” saying the district was fortunate to have her as a teacher. “A truly wonderful person who absolutely deserves the honor,” Feder told Patch.

Li left a two-decade career in the private sector to become an educator. She currently teaches 7th and 8th grade social studies at Crossroads South Middle School where she brought creativity and passion to the classroom to help students feel connected to history.

“Mrs. Li has put in time year after year to teach a fuller or richer history that integrates hidden voices,” social studies supervisor Jonathan Medina said in a statement. Medina also recalled how Li highlighted the accomplishments of women and people of color in her lessons.

Li’s rapport with students encourages them to pursue their passions and offers pep talks to those who may be struggling.

“Mrs. Li’s power is in sprinkling life lessons that kids can heed for the rest of their lives,” Medina said.

Li holds a master’s degree from Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs and is a graduate of the Princeton Teacher Preparation Program.

Princeton University has honored secondary school teachers since 1959 after receiving an anonymous gift from an alumnus to establish the program.

This year, 10 finalists were selected by the Program in Teacher Preparation staff and visited at their schools by Rosanne Zeppieri and Anne Catena, members of the program staff.

The four winners were then selected by a committee chaired by Elizabeth Colagiuri, deputy dean of the college, that also includes Kent; Jennifer Jennings, professor of sociology and public affairs and a faculty associate of the Office of Population Research; Stanley Katz, a lecturer with the rank of professor in public and international affairs at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs; and William Miron, principal of Millburn High School in New Jersey and a 1978 Princeton University graduate.

While making their selection, the committee, not only reviewed the applications but considers recommendations from colleagues and students as well as evidence of the teachers’ accomplishments in the school and the community.

“These four prize winners remind us that there are truly exceptional people who are teaching in the nation’s schools,” said Todd Kent, director of Princeton’s Program in Teacher Preparation, when the recipients were announced.

“These incredible teachers were selected for the impact they have on their students and on their school and local communities.”

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