Local Teacher, Winter Athletes Honored by Board of Ed.

A teacher at Jefferson Elementary School and the Westfield High School winter athletes were honored at the latest Board of Education meeting earlier this week.

Kareem Thompson, fifth grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in Westfield, received the Philhower Fellowship award as a guest of honor at the Westfield Rotary Club luncheon on Tuesday, May 5, Westfield Public Schools said. The Westfield Board of Education also presented Thompson with a resolution at a reception at Jefferson Elementary School’s auditorium later that night.

Thompson has been a teacher in the Westfield Public Schools district since 1999, beginning his teaching career at Jefferson Elementary. According to Westfield Public Schools, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Stockton College and his Master’s degree in elementary education from Rowan University.

Additionlly, BOE vice president Gretchan Olig presented certificates of achievement to a number of Westfield High School athletes and state sectional champions. The Board recognized the boys’ cross-country team, the girls’ gymnastics team and the boys’ swim team, according to Superintendent Margaret Dolan.

The boys’ cross-country team completed its 10th straight undefeated dualmeet season, extending its winning streak to 66, dating back to September 2004, according to Superintendent Dolan. The team’s championship season included a Watchung Division Conference Championship, runner-up at the Union County Championship and a North 2 Group 4 Sectional Championship.

The girls’ gymnastics team concluded its season with an 8-0 record and won the Union County Title for the ninth consecutive year. Additionally, the Westfield girls won the sectional title for the second straight year.

The Westfield boys’ swim team won the County and North II Sectional Championship and advanced to the State Final, Superintendent Dolan said. Additionally, the team broke both a county and school record during the season.

For more information regarding what occurred at the most recent Westfield Board of Education meeting, visit the Westfield Public Schools website.

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