Saint Peter Teacher Finalist For NJ Nonpublic Teacher Of Year

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — A teacher at Saint Peter School in Point Pleasant Beach has been named a finalist for the Nonpublic Teacher of the Year Award.

Eileen Baglivio was honored Tuesday as a finalist for the 2022 award by the New Jersey Council for American Private Education in a ceremony held virtually, a news release from Saint Peter School said.

Baglivio was one of two finalists, along with Kristine Combs from Far Hills Country Day School. The nonpublic teacher of the year was Juliette Wester from Seton Hall Prep.

Baglivio, who was nominated by her school and then approved as the nominee for the Diocese of Trenton, has spent 30 years in education, including the last 24 years at Saint Peter School teaching kindergarten. She holds a master’s degree in education from Columbia University and is certified to teach in both New Jersey and New York.

In addition to teaching the youngest learners, Baglivio leads the Character Education and Anti-Bully Committee and helped lead Saint Peter School to become a New Jersey State School of Character. Her contributions to the community are many, including food collections for the local food pantry, fundraising to provide items for the local police department when children end up in their care, and leading the Saint Peter School Mission program.

"Mrs. Baglivio is committed to the service of others and teaches her students the importance of empathy, compassion and the care of all God’s children," the school said.

"She is an exemplary teacher who gives of herself each day to provide the foundation necessary to develop students of faith and character while providing rigorous academics and fostering the success of her students," Saint Peter School Principal Tracey Kobrin said in her nomination.

"She exemplifies what we all want in a Catholic school educator – someone who is committed to all areas of growth for her students, who helps and mentors new teachers, who heads many important committees, who is dedicated to the success of the school, who remains positive despite challenges, and who spreads love and goodness every single day."

"It was a tremendous honor to be recognized as a finalist for Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year," Baglivio said. "As Catholic school educators, we are charged with planting seeds of faith, character, and knowledge in our children. We love and nurture them and watch them grow every single day. Catholic schools provide the highest quality education while instilling Gospel values in our young people. I am so grateful to be a Catholic school teacher and incredibly grateful for this honor!"

Saint Peter School was founded in 1923 in Point Pleasant Beach, and has been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School and a New Jersey State of School Character.