Tireless Supporters: 3 Ex-Employees Honored For Service To East Brunswick Schools

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – The East Brunswick School District honored three former employees for making significant contributions during the Board meeting on Thursday.

The Wall of Honor induction is the highest honor given by the school district. This year’s honorees are Alan Brodman, Patricia LaDuca and Ellen Murphy.

The nominees were selected by the recognition committee which includes BOE members, EBEA, and the East Brunswick Principals and Supervisors Association sets guidelines and criteria for selection. Eligibility begins a year and a half following the employee's retirement.

“You are the reason the kids are so successful,” BOE President Lurie Lachs told the honorees. “Our kids would not be what they are if not for people like you doing what you do for all these years.”

Alan Brodman

Brodman has been a resident of East Brunswick for over 60 years and a "tireless supporter of the East Brunswick Community,” Superintendent Victor Valeski said. He worked as a practicing attorney before returning to the community as a teacher.

“Despite making a significant financial sacrifice Alan entered the field of education to share his talent and expertise with young people,” Valeski said. “With his legal background and his own high school experiences, Alan was a natural fit for East Brunswick.”

Brodman was the Civics, World History and Constitution teacher for around 28 years in the school district. He was well known for leading the Institute of Political and Legal Education (IPLE) class and the Model U.N. Program.

Since his retirement, Brodman has continued to support the program and has volunteered over 100 hours of his time each year to students.

“Alan Brodman has played a significant role in making East Brunswick a top tier public school district. Allen's dedication and success, and the impact he's made, make him a deserving member of the Wall of Honor," Valeski said.

Patricia LaDuca

Patricia LaDuca and her family have lived in East Brunswick for over 34 years. An active member of the PTA, LaDuca served as President of the Bowne Monroe PTA for two terms and then as President of the Hammarskjold PTA.

LaDuca planned school tours set up information sessions for the bond referendum and met regularly with parents and church groups. In 1996, she filled a family leave position in a kindergarten classroom at Lawrence Brook Elementary School. The following year, she expanded her role as a basic skill reading specialist. In 2002, she was promoted to supervisor of health, testing, adult education, and the Summer Academy.

In 2008 she joined the central office team as Director of Community Outreach. And in 2014, she returned as supervisor of language Arts, English and Primary Education.

“Trish often worked from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. to ensure these programs were successful,” Valeski said. “Trish served many positions and excelled at each one of them. She is most deserving of being honored with a place on the East Brunswick wall.”

Ellen Murphy

Ellen Murphy is credited for building the school district’s special needs program in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She began in 1993 as department chairperson for special education and return to the district in 2004, where her vision for the autism programs really began to grow.

“Ellen worked diligently to create a rigorous program run by dedicated teachers and instructional assistants of East Brunswick public schools. Her knowledge of instructional techniques such as applied behavior, analysis, and verbal behavior, was unmatched,” Valeski said.

Murphy also ran parent training, setting up home visits and helping parents fill out the paperwork with the state to get additional services.

“And of most important, she made the parents of children with autism feel like they were not alone in this experience, but they had a team of people supporting them,” Valeski said.

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