Canizaro: Hopatcong's Teacher of the Year

Joanne Canizaro is no stranger to recognition. Radio station WDHA-FM named the 10-year teacher a Teacher Who Rocks in 2010. And she was given a Governor's Teacher Recognition Award last year.

But Canizaro, a language arts teacher, was stunned to see Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano, middle school Prinicipal Lou Benfatti and Principal Tracey Hensz standing in her classroom, holding balloons, eager to congratulate her on becoming Hopatcong's 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year.

"I stopped in my tracks," Canizaro said. "I didn't even know what to say to them. Of course, then the lightbulb went off and I realized why they were there. But I was beyond shocked."

Benfatti said Canizaro, who was selected by a panel headed by Hensz, deserved the honor.

"I was very excited," he said. "I was happy for her an surely all of the effort she puts into what she does is quite exciting.

"The way she talks to her kids, the way that she expects her kids to rise to the occasion—it's really no different from what other teachers are doing around here, but she has a unique way of doing it. She thinks outside the box and tries to get the kids to think outside the box."

Benfatti said Canizaro's passion for language has shined for years.

"One of the things that sticks out for me in Mrs. Canizaro is that she has a passion as far as language arts," he said. "She has a broad knowledge of her subject matter and her curriculum."

That's because writing has always been a part of Canizaro's life.

Canizaro, 54, grew up in Queens as a voracious reader, graduated from St. John's University with a bachelor's degree in English and spent most of her working life in publishing, where she handled everything from production to editing to writing.

"I've always been a reader," she said. "I taught myself how to read before I went to school and I've always loved reading stories. I'm an avid newspaper reader. I read a lot of fiction. It's a very important part of my life. Once you're a really good reader, you become used to really good writing and you start being able to recognize really good writing and you want to imitate that."

And though she enjoyed her work, Canizaro, who said she hopes someday to write a book or short story, reached a point in her career where she "wanted to give back."

"I wanted to feel like I accomplished something at the end of the day," she said. "And I wanted to do something better than what I was doing, something more important than what I was doing."

Canizaro quickly decided teaching was her calling and eventually earned her certification at the College of St. Elizabeth. Soon she was teaching at the middle school.

Canizaro, who counts Larry McMurtry, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway among her favorite writers, said fostering a level of respect with students is paramount to her success.

"It is important that they know they are respected by me and, in turn, they show respect to me," she said. "And they do it. I've been very fortunate in all the classes I've had. The kids are very kind and they respond to me and I respond to them. It's been a pleasure getting to know them."

Organization and focus make a strong middle school language arts student, Canizaro said.

"They won't be able to focus without being organized," she said. "And once you're organized you can be focused on what you need to do. And you need to have an open mind to all of the experiences you're getting and learn from them. They're going through a tremendous amount of growth in three short years. If they're receptive to that growth, and are able to put it into perspective, they'll be more successful."

With the distinction, Canizaro will vie to become Hopatcong's second Sussex County Teacher of the Year. Danielle Kovach accomplished the feat en route to becoming the 2010-2011 .

Has your child had Joanne Canizaro? Want to congratulate the 2011-2012 Hopatcong Teacher of the Year? Tell us in the comments.