Educator of the year

2016 Arts Educator of the Year Randy Kupcha You don’t even have to enter the building to see and feel Mr. Kupcha’s impact on Branchburg Central Middle School. Visitors to our school are greeted by a 100-foot mural on the front of the building inspired by Keith Haring’s work that he designed with students and…

2017 Arts Educator of the Year Valerie Snyder-Grollman Valerie Snyder-Grollman is a proud graduate of Rutgers University, Douglass College.  She has been an arts educator in the North Brunswick Township School District since 1980 where she has taught painting, drawing, graphic design, ceramics, and sculpture. Ms. Snyder-Grollman has had the pleasure of teaching many students…

2018 Arts Educator of the Year Argine Safari Argine Safari is passionate about transforming the lives of her students through the power of music.  Her multilingual, multicultural background and rich personal experiences as a refugee led her to motivate her students in appreciating the value of hard work and in competing and collaborating as ethical…

2019 Arts Educator of the Year Ian Kearns Ian Kearns is a proud graduate of DeSales University.  He has been an arts educator in the Point Pleasant School District since 2007 where he teaches Theatrical Design.  Mr. Kearns also serves as the Director for the high school performing arts productions.  Continuing the “Boro” tradition of…

2021 Arts Educator of the Year Shawna E. Longo Shawna E. Longo is the General Music (Music Technology) teacher and Arts Integration Specialist at Durban Avenue School, Hopatcong, NJ.  She is also a published author with her book, Integrating STEM with Music, currently on presale with Oxford University Press.  Additionally, she serves as a Coach…

2022 Arts Educator of the Year Dr. Michael Penna Dr. Penna is a Theater and English Teacher at Collier High School in Wickatunk, NJ. Collier is a school for students with disabilities and special needs. He has a Ph.D. in Education from Walden University, MPhil in Education from Walden University, MA in Theater Studies from…