VIDEO: Award Shocks Hopatcong Teacher

Danielle Kovach was surprised when Honeywell executive Tom Buckmaster announced the third-grade special education teacher and former New Jersey Teacher of the Year would be given the company's Hometown Hero award.

And then her husband and children appeared, followed by her parents.

"I'm very surprised," said Kovach to a filled auditorium. "Too surprised. But very thankful for this award."

The announcement came at the end of Tulsa Trail's Veterans Day ceremony. Kovach, who also received a $10,000 grant from Honeywell 2009, thanked the veterans along with her coworkers and students during an impromptu speech.

Read more about Kovach in the press release from Honeywell below.

Honeywell Hometown Solutions announced today that Danielle M. Kovach, a third grade special education teacher at Tulsa Trail Elementary School in Hopatcong, N.J., has been presented with the Honeywell Hometown Heroes award.

Honeywell established the Honeywell Hometown Heroes recognition to honor exceptional community leaders making a positive impact in their communities.

“Danielle Kovach has had a profound impact on Tulsa Trail Elementary and the Hopatcong community by developing the Superheroes of Safety program designed to keep children safe from child predators,” said Tom Buckmaster, President of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the corporate citizenship arm of diversified technology and manufacturing leader Honeywell. “Her efforts have made Tulsa Trail Elementary and Hopatcong a better and safer place for students and residents, and demonstrate a profound commitment to serving others. Honeywell Hometown Heroes is pleased to present Danielle with this award and we are proud to call her a Honeywell Hometown Hero.”

Each year, Honeywell recognizes a number of individuals – Hometown Heroes – whose efforts improve the lives of others and make their hometowns better places to live and work. These dedicated, caring, and highly motivated individuals are doing the right work, right now.

A teacher for more than 11 years, Ms. Kovach was named New Jersey Teacher of the Year in 2010-2011.  She was also instrumental in helping Tulsa Trail Elementary School become recognized as a SMART Showcase School – one of only two schools in New Jersey to earn the designation.  Ms. Kovach serves as the school’s technology leader and developed a classroom website to communicate with parents and teachers. She also created Superheroes of Safety and, as a result, was named a grand prize winner in 2009 for the annual Got 2B Safe! awards program that recognizes teachers committed to keeping children safe from abduction and sexual exploitation. Got 2B Safe! is a program created by Honeywell and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

“The overall bottom line is making a difference in our world and a difference in our society,” said Ms.  Kovach, who is married and has three sons. “Being with my students eight hours a day and putting in my heart and soul is my way of giving back to our community. I am in my profession for a reason which is really to contribute to our society to help our future. If I can make a difference with one child than my job is all the more worth it.”