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Star Teachers : April, 2011

by Editorial Staff--Suburban Family Magazine

Mike Ranger & Kathy Burke, Washington Township
To conclude Pi week at Chestnut Ridge Middle School, eighth-grade teachers on Team Shining Stars urged students to donate 200 canned goods, in exchange for the chance to give a teacher a pie in the face. Mike Ranger’s (pictured) and Kathy Burke’s classes reached the goal.

William Seng, Mount Laurel
Lenape High School science teacher William Seng was one of the 76 educators named an Apple Distinguished Educator in 2011. The Apple Distinguished Educator Program recognizes teachers and leaders for incorporating Apple products into their teaching.

Susan Miles, Haddonfield
Haddonfield Friends Middle School science teacher Susan Miles led her students to participate in the annual Coriell Institute Science Fair. More than 200 students competed in the fair and 13 Haddonfield Friends students received awards, ribbons and medals.

Carrie Greco, Washington Township
The New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance awarded an Elevate Your Heart mini-grant to Birches Elementary School physical eduction teacher Carrie Greco. Greco wanted to convey to her students the importance of intensity in their exercise. The money from the grant will be used to purchase 30 elementary-friendly Qwickpulse-2Heart Rate monitors, which will allow students to measure the intensity of their exercise.

Erica Witzig, Marlton
Cherokee High School French teacher Erica Witzig has been teaching at the high school for 13 years and is the adviser of the Students’ Movement Against Cancer club (SMAC). Witzig and her SMAC students help to run the St. Christopher’s oncology ward annual talent show. In addition, since the club started participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in 2000, SMAC has raised more than $50,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Kathleen Ware, Medford
Shawnee High School family consumer sciences teacher Kathleen Ware was selected as the school’s teacher of the year. Ware is the Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter adviser and well as the adviser of the Shawnee Threads and Yarns Club. As adviser to the only FCCLA chapter in the Lenape Regional High School District, Ware traveled with two FCCLA students to the National Conference in Chicago, where both students earned gold medals.

Mike Potter, Medford
After receiving requests from his students wanting to help those in Japan, Chairville Elementary School third-grade teacher Mike Potter spearheaded the effort in creating origami cranes. Japanese legend promises that if 1,000 cranes are folded a wish will come true. Students folded cranes and sought out sponsors. The proceeds were donated to the American Red Cross Japanese Relief Fund.

Christopher Corey, Cliff Ireland, Scott Klear, Marissa McKinney, Louis Tortu and Melanie Wyckoff, Cherry Hill
The Beck Middle School teachers planned an interdisciplinary unit that focused on disabilities. The culminating activity welcomed Bancroft of Haddonfield students, with the help of more than 15 other teachers and education assistants, to Beck for a day of unity.

Donna Donato, Voorhees
Under the direction of Donato, Eastern Regional High School teacher and coordinator of the Gifted and Talented Program, students presented two workshops at the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children's 20th annual conference. They taught younger students how to use the scientific method to extract DNA from strawberries, how to make a lava lamp and how electricity works.

Mary Ann Overbeck, Moorestown
For her 25 years of dedication to Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish School, librarian Mary Ann Overbeck received the Sister Michael Vincent Award during Catholic Schools Week Mass.

Gerry Bissinger, Craig Ogelby, Dennis Smegal and Jennifer Wisniewski , Haddonfield
Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School principal and teachers showed their school support by getting new haircuts. The elementary school students raised more than $13,000 for the American Heart Association and, in exchange, teacher Jennifer Wisniewski had her pony tail cut off for Locks of Love, while principal Craig Ogelby, teacher Gerry Bissinger and custodian Dennis Smegal received buzz cuts with a little help from their students.

Steve & Kim Redfearn, Cherry Hill
Steve Redfearn, fifth-grade teacher at Joyce Kimler Elementary School and wife Kim, first- and second-grade teacher at Russell Knight Elementary School, have spearheaded Volley for Support, a Cherry Hill school-wide volleyball fundraiser to raise money for charities, for the past seven years. To date, the fundraiser has raised over $60,000.

Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Family Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 2 (April, 2011).
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