Parsippany Middle School Names First Teacher Of The Month

PARSIPPANY, NJ - Central Middle School began a new monthly recognition in December when they named Thomas Curcio to be their first “Teacher of the Month.”

Teachers will now be nominated each month by fellow faculty members and the identified teacher will be acknowledged to the school and local community. Grade 8 English teacher Curcio said he was humbled and honored to learn he received the award during the school’s winter pep rally.

Central Middle School student Darren Spratley said that Curcio is an extraordinary teacher.

“He taught me to love to read,” he said.

Curcio expressed great appreciation for the award and for being at Central Middle School.

“It is a very positive workspace, where administrators are always willing to assist and, most importantly, the kids are great,” he said, noting that one of his favorite parts of teaching is when a student "gets it."

"Just when you think they may not get it, something lights up inside of them and it reassures me that I am doing something right,” he said.

Curcio said that he thinks English can be incredibly empowering to students.

"Books are like mirrors that teach us how to be the right kind of human being, he said. "And writing helps us communicate our thoughts, as sometimes we tend to share things in our writing we wouldn’t dare share through speaking with one another.”

He also identified developing connections with students and collaborating with colleagues as two other reasons he loves being a teacher. And his colleagues agree, citing Curcio’s love for students, and his willingness to collaborate with colleagues as attributes.

Fun facts Curcio shared about his life outside of the classroom walls include that he enjoys going to gym, attending Broadway shows, and watching programs about home renovations.

"And then trying to do some of those things to my own place,” he said, noting that he loves taking care of his two dogs and has been known to check on the dogs with a home camera in his free time pretty often.

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