Outstanding Teachers Recognized by Board of Ed

Westfield's outstanding intermediate and high school teachers were honored by the Board of Education at Tuesday's meeting. 

Pamela Friedman and Debbie Vezos were named Outstanding Intermediate School Teachers for 2013 by the Optimist Club of Westfield.

Friedman, who is in her ninth year as a technology teacher at Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield, said she knew from the time she was a child that she wanted to be an educator.

Quoting Aristotle, Friedman said, "Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all,” when speaking of the importance of teaching "the whole child."

Vezos is in her 15th year at Edison Intermediate School, where she teaches seventh grade Language Arts, Academic Enrichment, and Basic Skills. During her career at Edison, she also taught sixth grade Language Arts, Journalism, and Language Arts Extension. She joked that unlike Friedman as a child it was her dream to sell ice cream. She thanked her parents who were in attendance for helping her reconsider. Vezos quoted Ray Bradbury in stating, "Love what you do and do what you love."

Three Westfield High School teachers were recognized for outstanding achievement during the 2012-2013 school year. 

Stephen Boyle, a biology teacher, received the Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award. 

Andrea Hill, a mathematics teacher, received the Robert and Linda Foose Memorial Award.

Zorana Culjak, also a mathematics teacher, received the PTSO Outstanding Teacher Award.

Each was previously honored at the annual awards night.