Superintendent's Corner Column

Nurturing Tomorrow's Stars:

Celebrating Our Educational Heroes

May 2, 2025

"Teachers, I believe, are the most responsible and important members of society because their professional efforts affect the fate of the earth." Helen Caldicott

Our greatest asset in education has always been, and will always be, our people. This truth resonated deeply as we recently gathered to honor the exceptional educators and staff who transform our Fair Lawn schools into communities of excellence, innovation, and care.

Why do certain educators leave such profound impressions on our students? It's because they start with why—understanding that their purpose extends beyond curriculum delivery to shaping the future through each child they inspire. Our Teachers of the Year exemplify this commitment, creating classrooms where curiosity flourishes and every student discovers their unique potential.

Our Education Specialists of the Year represent the unseen architects of student success. They provide critical support that removes barriers and opens pathways for all learners. Their specialized expertise ensures that every child receives what they need to thrive.

Those celebrating 25 years of service remind us that excellent education is a marathon, not a sprint. Their unwavering dedication, which has been demonstrated over a quarter-century, has weathered changing standards, technologies, and generations, maintaining an uncompromising commitment to excellence.

The Starfish Award recipient embodies the power of making a difference, one child at a time. As the parable teaches us, while we cannot save every starfish on the beach, it makes all the difference for the ones we return to the ocean. This educator has changed trajectories and opened possibilities that will ripple through lifetimes.

To our retirees, you've written countless unfinished stories – planting seeds of knowledge, character, and curiosity that will continue to grow long after your classroom days conclude. Your legacy lives on in the thousands of lives you've shaped, and we sincerely appreciate your lasting impact.

Education is an investment in human potential with returns that compound across generations. We are profoundly grateful for these exceptional individuals whose work embodies our district's mission to develop accomplished students and thoughtful, engaged citizens prepared to make their own contributions to society.

With deep appreciation,

Dr. Rui Dionisio

Superintendent of Schools

Watch the Educator Recognition Ceremony

FLHS Junior Earns Honorable Mention for

"Mamma Mia!" Role

It’s news that has us singing from the balcony of a little Greek taverna, “Mamma Mia… here we go again!” Congratulations to Fair Lawn High School junior Michal Semory Gertler for receiving a prestigious Paper Mill Playhouse 2025 Rising Star Honorable Mention for “Outstanding Performer in a Female-Identified Leading Role”! Backed by a spectacular cast & crew, Michal’s rousing performance as Sophie in the spring production of “Mamma Mia!” truly brought the house down.

“We are incredibly proud of Michal and thrilled to see her talent and hard work recognized in this way,” says Liliana Lopez, Fair Lawn Supervisor of World Languages, Multilingual Learners, and Music.

No Place for Hate Activities Shape Young Minds

at Elementary Level

Warren Point and Forrest students recently “linked up for change” in both the virtual and creative sense as No Place for Hate programming makes its way to our elementary schools. Third and fourth graders read Peter H. Reynolds' book “Say Something!” to their kindergarten through second grade counterparts and followed it up with a meaningful discussion on speaking up, being an upstanding citizen, and expressing thoughts in different ways. Classrooms then crafted paper chains filled with positive affirmations. Each chain was exchanged between schools and now hang proudly on display as a reminder to students to use their voice for good.

Girls Lacrosse "Sister Act" Makes Headlines

Yannick Peterhans, Yannick Peterhans/NorthJersey.com

Check out this recent piece in The Record about girls varsity lacrosse captain Sydney Murri and her sister, Fair Lawn alum and assistant coach Samantha. The article speaks about the Murris’ dynamic and steadfast dedication to the sport, with Sydney expressing her joy about Samantha joining the team in a leadership role. She says, “I was jumping up and down… [Coach Mike Carti] was worried that some siblings aren’t as close as us. But I was so excited when he told me. I knew before she knew.” Samantha feels similarly, “Coming back and coaching at your high school is like a dream, especially when you have a sister on the team, a cousin on the team.”

We wish girls lacrosse a successful remainder of the season - they’re heading into the upcoming Bergen County tournament as the No. 11 seed!

Article by District Supervisor Featured in NJPSA Journal

Kudos to Mr. Ron Durso, Fair Lawn Supervisor of Science, Engineering, Physical Education & Health, whose piece on mentorship was recently published in the spring edition of Educational Viewpoints , the journal of the NJ Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA). Mr. Durso advocates on behalf of school leaders and backs the idea of creating comprehensive supervisory mentoring programs to help with their certification.

Earth Day Celebrations Highlight Sustainability

Westmoreland kicked off the morning of April 22 with a rousing performance from the Paper Bag Players! The NYC-based theatre troupe utilizes materials like paper and cardboard to create their imaginative sets and props, a perfect fit for Earth Day. The players fished, bowled, baked, and had our students laughing and singing along from start to finish.

Over at Lyncrest, students took a moment to reflect on their environmental impact and brought home reusable water bottles thanks to grant monies from the Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA). Fourth grade teacher Ms. Amber Kearns applied for the grant on behalf of the school, which emphasizes fostering environmental stewardship. On Earth Day, her students distributed the blue and silver bottles and taught their fellow schoolmates an important lesson on the impacts of materials like plastic, styrofoam, and more.

Ramapo College

Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership

2025 COHORT

Dear Fair Lawn Community,

The Fair Lawn Public Schools is thrilled to present a remarkable opportunity that aligns with our mission to advance education and support the professional growth of esteemed educators for learning, teaching, and leading.

We are excited to introduce the second-year partnership between Ramapo College and Fair Lawn Public Schools towards a Masters of Arts in Education Educational Leadership (MAEL), hosted in Fair Lawn. This program is designed to empower passionate educators like yourself to make a lasting impact through learning and leadership as you earn a NJ Principal and Supervisor Certificate.

Program Overview:

NJ Certificate of Eligibility for Principal (36 credits): Equipping you with the necessary credentials for principal roles.

Post-Masters NJ Supervisor Certificate Program (16 credits): Completion in Summer I & II for further career enhancement.

Cohort & Hybrid Model Classes: Taught by outstanding educational leaders in the Fair Lawn Public Schools, offering flexibility and convenience.

Accelerated Option: Complete your MA in just 2 years or accelerate it to 1 year, tailored to your needs.

Affordable & Flexible: Benefit from discounted tuition, tuition reimbursement, payment plans, and financial aid options to make your education accessible.

Next Steps:

The Ramapo College MAEL Program is a graduate master's program open to everyone.

If you are interested in this transformative opportunity, please complete the Google Form below to indicate your interest and to receive details about upcoming Information Sessions. Priority registration will be provided to Fair Lawn faculty and staff.

Together, let's embark on a journey of growth, innovation, and excellence in education.

http://tinyurl.com/RamapoMAELCohort2025