Individuals recognized for serving school district BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer MILLSTONE- Departing boardmembers and two teachers received recognition at the last Board of Education meeting. Board President Mary Ann Friedman, who declined to run for another term, led her last official meeting, during which outgoing board member Peter Kudrick and teachers who received the Governor's Teacher Recognition Award were honored. Superintendent of Schools Mary Anne Donahue recognized Friedman's contributions toMillstone schools.Donahue recalled that when she first came to the district in 1997, Friedman was serving on the PTO. "She extended herself to me with warmth and grace," Donahue said, adding that Friedman later became president of the PTO and ran for the board in 1999. "You'vemade a fantastic contribution to Millstone and the board will recognize you as a great leader, as I do," Donahue said. Former board member Sami Qutub commented that Friedman has been a tremendous asset to the board, citing her patience and composure. Friedman started a new job last month as a field representative for the New Jersey School Boards Association. In the position, she will serve Cumberland, Gloucester and Camden counties. She said she is very excited about the new opportunity. Kudrick, who also decided not to run for another term, was honored for the work he did during his three years in office. Because of a family illness, he was not able to attend the meeting. Donahue said that Kudrick had been invaluable to the board while it went through the construction process of the new middle school. The board also recognized science teacher Beth Topinka, who received the Governor's Teacher Recognition Award as Millstone's middle school teacher of the year. "My studentswould describe me as being happy, energetic, and passionate about science," Topinka said. "Students respond extremely well to enthusiasm." She continued, "Science is easy to get excited about. There are constant new developments that easily relate to people's lives; for example, genetics, body systems, animal adaptations, technology." Topinka said she loves teachingmiddleschool age students. "They are curious about their world and are old enough to have meaningful, articulate discussions and conversations, while also being young and unselfconscious enough to have fun and sing silly songs about mitosis and bananas," she said. Teaching is a second career for Topinka. Back in the early '80s, she designed software for AT&T. "Initially I was hired as a technical editor and then showed an aptitude for programming," she said. "Thework was fun while I was learning, but the assignments eventually became rote." After taking time off to raise her two sons, she realized she needed a change. "Teaching science combines everything I love- constant learning about amazing newscience discoveries, the opportunity to be creative, a chance to pursue new teaching strategies and activities, and the reward of seeing children blossominto eager young scientists," she said. Teacher Nancy Osterberg also earned the Governor's Teacher Recognition Award. She beganworking in the district after graduating from Penn State University and has been an elementary school teacher for various grades aswell as a Student Council and Drama Club adviser. Osterberg currently teaches the learning-disabled class at the elementary school. "Millstone Township Elementary School has such a wonderful and caring teaching staff, words cannot begin to express how proud I felt when I received the Governor's TeachingRecognitionAward,"Osterberg said. Osterberg considers herself lucky to have had the opportunity to teach in Millstone for nearly 20 years. "During this time, I have had the chance to teach at many grade levels and go back to school to improve my own teaching practices," she said. "I have learned somuch, but perhaps the most important thing is that a teacher does not teach a class - a teacher teaches individuals." She said she has always tried to reach her students as individuals. "I try to get as close as I can to my students, so that they know how much I care about them," she said. "After all, kids don't care what you know until they know how much you care." Osterberg's students ran up and hugged her when she was presented with the award, according to Donahue. The superintendent said that Topinka and Osterberg will be recognized for their achievements at a luncheon in earlyMay for allMonmouth County recipients of theGovernor's Award. At that time, one recipient will be chosen to move on to the state level of recognition.