Schools

Five Teachers Inducted Into Wall of Honor

Carlotta Miller, Shirley Read, Thomas Smith, Margaret Reuse and Pamela Volkmann were honored by the school district.

No matter where they go next or where they eventually end up, their names will forever be remembered in East Brunswick.

When the East Brunswick School District inducted five teachers – Carlotta Miller, Shirley Read, Thomas Smith, Margaret Reuse and Pamela Volkmann - into the Wall of Honor last week, it was doing more than honoring the careers of five retired teachers, it was honoring the hard work, dedication and passion that each exemplified during their careers.

“They’re more than the name on the wall, this is about the 1,000s of lives you have touched,” said Michael Vinella, president of the East Brunswick Principals and Supervisors Associatin, who headed up Wall of Honor Selection Committee.

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During the induction ceremony, Superintendent Jo Ann Magistro spoke briefly about each teacher.

Carlotta Miller

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Carlotta Miller began her career in 1980 as a reading specialist at the East Brunswick High School and retired in 2009.

“Her ambition, knowledge, and passion for reading and writing led to extraordinary district-wide contributions over the 29 years that followed,” she said. “To Carlotta, East Brunswick Public Schools was not just a place of employment – it was Carlotta’s second home.”

After spending some time at her “real” home raising two sons, Miller returned to the district as a reading specialist and elementary teacher at Bowne Munro and Warnsdorfer schools.  As a teacher, she was seen as an innovator and leader among her peers, said Magistro.

Miller was named Teacher of the Year in 1995. In 1998 she became a member of the administrative team as the district’s Supervisor of English and Staff Development.  Her role later expanded to supervise Integrated Language Arts, English and Primary Education. In 2005, Miller was named principal of Bowne Munro.

“Whether serving as a teacher, reading specialist, class advisor, supervisor, or Principal, Carlotta’s desire to develop the love of reading and writing in each student lead her to advanced study at Columbia University,” said Magistro.

Shirley Reed

Up next was Shirley Reed, a science teacher at the high school for 35 years.

“Her mantra was evident in her every move – her instruction, her mentoring, her interactions with parents, and her great pride in seeing students come back year after year to brag how far ahead they were in their college science courses,” said Magistro.

Magistro said that Reed’s greatest pride was her students’ achievements.

“Shirley treated each student like her protégé – and stopped at nothing to get them to recognize their fullest potential.  Many of her former students have chosen to pursue medical and other science careers,” said Magistro.

During her tenure, Reed worked to create curriculum, activities and assessments for anatomy and physiology that were designed to make the material come alive for her students. In addition, the anatomy and physiology course was the first in the science department to earn credit at Middlesex County College. 

Now retired, Read also served as the class advisor to the save club, worked on the senior-senior prom, and more.

Thomas Smith

Inductee Thomas Smith spent 16 years in the district science and gifted and talented programs before retiring in 2008. According to Magistro, someone who nominated Smith for the award said: “Tom Smith will probably never fully realize the district-wide impression he left on the East Brunswick community.”

Smith's list of educational association involvements is endless, said Magistro. During his time in the district, Smith served as the local professional development committee chair, as a New Jersey Science Teacher Association executive member, and as a member of the New Jersey Association for the Gifted.  

“Tom was the type of administrator you knew you could count on.  His managerial style was one that was centered on respect.  He had confidence in his teachers and knew just how to tap into their individual talents and resources,” said Magistro.

Smith also worked with the Science Olympiad, Fairview trips, and more.

Margaret Reuse

Margaret Reuse stepped into Frost School for the first time in 1972, and retired 37 years later.

“Peggy was considered a master teacher from early on.  Her extensive curricular knowledge, warmth, and gentle manner with students made her a standout mentor for novice teachers,” said Magistro

In 1989, Reuse was recognized by her peers as Frost School’s Teacher of the Year. Whether working on committees, revising curriculum, or creating assessments, Reuse jumped at every opportunity to get involved in district-wide activities. She also was involved on the Master Teacher Committee and the Local Professional Development Committee.

In addition, as the district began to implement technology in the classrooms in the 1980’s, Reuse helped train her colleagues and volunteered to pilot new programs.

“Peggy would be the first to tell you that the parents, students, and staff hold a very special place in her heart.  The long lasting connections she made here will never be broken, said Magistro.

Reuse remains active in the East Brunswick Education Association and attends many social events in the district.

Pamela Volkmann

To best describe the evening’s last inductee, Magistro quoted Williams Arthur Ward: “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."  

During her 39 years in the district, Pamela Volkmann “inspired both her students and colleagues to reach their fullest potential,” said Magistro.

Volkmann began her career teaching math at Hammerskjold, first in the eighth-grade when it was a junior high school and since 1970, in the seventh grade.

“From her first year on the job, Pam possessed the qualities of a master teacher.  Her intuitiveness and innovation was simply unmatched, and always shared with others,” said Magistro.

During her time in the district, Volkmann was a teacher, student, colleague, advisor, mentor, leader, Intergrade Queen and much more.

“Pam spent countless hours each year developing curriculum, refining lessons and creating activities and assessments to be used by her entire department,” said Magistro. “She selflessly shared every new math activity she found because of her deeply rooted beliefs in student learning. Pam simply wanted all children to succeed and stopped at nothing to find just the right key to unlock the door to student success.”

Volkmann also served as an advisor to a Knitting Club, the Twirlers, and the Computer Club.  In 1999, she was the recipient of the Governor’s Award and in 2002, she was part of the first graduating class of the East Brunswick Master Teacher Program.

She also worked with the Character Counts program and helped create a tribute to Sept. 11 rescue workers. 


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