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Faculty & Staff Celebrate Achievements and Service

Approximately 150 Ranney faculty and staff members gathered in RSPA Panther Hall on Wednesday, May 25 to give thanks and pay tribute to several retiring, successful and admired educators or administrators.

This year’s Faculty and Staff Honors Celebration opened with a musical showcase from members of the Middle School Orchestra. Under the direction of strings teacher Dr. Dorothy Sobieski, the Middle School ensemble presented faculty and staff members with such musical selections as Overture to William Tell (Finale) and Danza Latina for Solo Violin and Orchestra, with Sabrina Park ’15 on the violin.

Also on showcase in Panther Hall Gallery were pieces of faculty artwork. One Lower School art teacher — Barbara Levine — received a recent nomination for “outstanding teacher” by a Monmouth University student. Ms. Levine will attend a Monmouth University School of Education Awards Reception on Wednesday, June 1st, where the University will formally acknowledge her excellent mentoring abilities and support of students in Monmouth’s teacher preparation program.

In his welcoming remarks, Head of School Dr. Lawrence S. Sykoff asked the audience, “What constitutes great teaching?” He continued by saying that modern-day Ranney teachers openly embrace change rather than seeing it as a challenge. For instance, within the past 10 months alone, Ranney has seen revolutionary advancements in technology and interactive learning supported by the school’s new Strategic Plan. These innovations, and more throughout what Dr. Sykoff referred to as a “breakthrough school year,” were exemplified in a video on 21st Century Teaching at Ranney. The evening’s audience was exposed to recent initiatives that have positively impacted Early Childhood Education, the Science Department and student-life.

Following a brief intermission that included coffee and dessert, Head of the Lower School Patricia Marshall thanked all faculty for actively fulfilling Ranney’s new mission-promise that every child be known and valued. She said, we confidently “look to teachers as experts who model the values of the school.” Appropriately, faculty-mentor Ronnie Warren then introduced 11 new Ranney School faculty members.

After receiving a commemorative frame and letter from Dr. Sykoff, Ranney’s retiring Board of Trustees president Dr. Daniel Goldberg thanked all in attendance for their hard work and asked that they continue to embrace the school’s new mission-promise and motto of Knowledge, Vision, Honor. Dr. Goldberg kept the best interests of students in mind throughout his 10-year tenure, and in honor of his success, Dr. Sykoff declared the creation of a “Daniel B. Goldberg, M.D. Mission-Promise Award.” Beginning next school year, this new award will recognize goal-driven teachers or administrators with 10 or more years of service who truly value Ranney’s mission.

Aside from welcoming 13 new faculty, staff and administrators with 10 or more years of dedicated service to Ranney and its students into the “Blue and White Lifer Society,” the program also inducted five distinguished members with 15 to 25 years of service into the school’s “Faculty Circle.” With 25 years of service to the school, Physical Education teacher and coach Barbara Bongiovanni was named this year’s “Faculty Circle Honoree.” Known for her passion to teach, love of subject matter and admiration for athletes, Ms. Bongiovanni inspires all students and colleagues to value teamwork.

Four major awards were also granted during the Honors Celebration. "The Carol Ann Presley Memorial Award" —presented by past recipient Katie Hunt — was given to fourth grade teacher Jeri Robinson in recognition of her exceptional excellence in teaching and empathy towards students. Presented by associate director of College Guidance and 2010 award recipient Adam Materasso, this year’s "Faculty Panther Prize," for one whose efforts embody the values of Knowledge, Vision, Honor, went to Aquatics Director Emmett Walling. With 31 years of service to the school, Mr. Walling has had the divine privilege of mentoring athletes, Beginners through grade 12, for over two decades. Following in the footsteps of History chair and 2010 "Dr. Lawrence S. Sykoff Faculty Fellowship Award" recipient Louise Dewar, study skills teacher Nancy Wade had the distinct honor of receiving the same award as she continually leads the way for others. After serving on the Headmaster’s Cabinet for nearly 12 years, Dr. Sykoff granted "The Head of School Award for Outstanding Leadership" to director of Student Support Services Kathleen Deeken.

In a final recognition of the evening, the school said its good-byes to a beloved teacher, administrator and mentor — Laura Gillroy. Mrs. Gillroy retires from Ranney after 23 years of service to the school. While one fellow colleague Doreen Fowlkes read a letter from a Ranney alumnus and student of Mrs. Gillroy, Jenna Perez ’02, Mrs. Gillroy’s long-time friend Janine Mitreuter wished Laura the best of luck as she embarks on her next adventure. In closing, Patricia Marshall assured Mrs. Gillroy, “Forever I will carry your mentorship with me.” And, Dr. Sykoff read Mrs. Gillroy the following Irish blessing: “May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.”

Congratulations to the following faculty-staff honorees:

Faculty Mentorship
Rebecca Sullivan
Carol Ann Rofrano
Mae Jan
Rosemarie Grippo
Kelly Engles
Isabelle Daly
Amelia Caverly
Jaclyn Camb
Neila Buday
Deb Natoli

Carol Ann Presley Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching   
Jeri Robinson

The Faculty Panther Prize
Emmett Walling

Dr. Lawrence S. Sykoff Faculty Fellowship Award
Nancy Wade

The Head of School Award for Outstanding Leadership
Kathleen Deeken
Faculty Lifers and Faculty Circle
10 Years
Maria LeComte
Margaret Moruzzi
Dede Joseph
Marie Ahearn
Louise Dewar
David Ketcham
Lori Ketcham
Nancy King
Sean Lang
Catherine Piccirillo
Mary Puorro
Jeri Robinson
Ave Maria Walwark

15 Years
William Flanagan
Karen Klim
Charles Ramos
Katrin Kiin

25 Years
Barbara Bongiovanni
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society. 

We envision Ranney School as a nurturing learning community, in which families, faculty, alumni, and all of Ranney’s constituents collaborate to know and value every child, foster individual talents, sustain powerful connections between children and adults, and graduate resilient, globally-minded citizens.