Patch Series: Meet Your Local Educators

Editor Note: The following article is part of a series. More Hoboken Educators of the Year will be featured in future posts.

Hoboken Public Schools has named its teachers of the year and educational services professionals of the year.

This year, the New Jersey Department of Education has combined the Teacher of the Year program with Governor’s Teacher/Educational Services Professional Recognition Program. Schools selected one teacher and one educational services professional to be recognized at the school level. The teacher awardees can then nominate themselves for the County Teacher of the Year program.

The following biography information is provided by the Hoboken Public School District.

Alison Szymanski: Connors School

Alison Szymanski joined the Hoboken School District in 2011.

She taught 5th and 6th grade special education at Connors School, and is currently assigned as a response to intervention (RTI) specialist at Thomas G. Connors School and Salvatore R. Calabro School.

Szymanski comes from a family of teachers and her goal to become a teacher was set at a very young age. Her road to literacy education was guided by a preoccupation with dyslexia. She was a constant witness to her childhood friend’s frustration and disappointment as that friend struggled with reading.

Szymanski pursued a double major in language arts and elementary education with an endorsement in special education. She completed the five-year course of study at Georgian Court University in four years. She was naturally drawn to the special needs population and enjoyed helping students with reading and writing.

Szymanski completed the Orton-Gillingham certification in multi-sensory reading at Fairleigh Dickinson University and is currently finishing coursework at Fairleigh Dickinson for a master’s degree.

Send Hoboken news tips and releases to Eric.Kiefer@Patch.com