Superintendent's Corner Column

The People Inside Our Buildings

May 8, 2026

"Our schools are not just buildings made out of brick and steel.

They are made up of the people who are inside of them."

Last week at the Board of Education meeting, three of our student representatives took their seats at the board table and gave their monthly reports. Ezra Fineman from the high school. Sam Gelman from TJ. Vighnesh Rath from Memorial. They walked us through testing prep at the middle schools, a buddy bench donation made in memory of a colleague's father, an eighth grade Chinese class trip to the Scholar's Garden, the upcoming Marketplace events at Memorial and TJ, an NJHS induction with twenty-seven new members, junior prom Night in Manhattan theme, the launch of digital payments at the high school, and a national medal at academic decathlon for Joe Subiszak.

Then, near the end, Vighnesh looked up and said something I keep coming back to.

"To all of the educators being recognized tonight, this evening is about celebrating you. Our gratitude must come first. Thank you for the impact, your dedication, and your heart."

That was an eighth grader. Unprompted. On his own time. He said it before any of the adults in the room got the chance.

What followed was one of my favorite nights of the year. We recognized teachers of the year and educational specialists of the year from every school. We celebrated retirees whose careers in Fair Lawn spanned twenty, twenty-five, thirty, and even thirty-nine years. We honored colleagues who marked 25 years of service to this district. The room stayed full. The applause did not get tired.

This is the work that does not show up on a report. The paraprofessional who knows her students better than anyone. The literacy coach who lifts an entire faculty. The guidance counselor whose warmth steadies a building. The custodian who has kept a school clean and safe for thirty-nine years. The bus driver who has carried our children with care for a quarter of a century. Different schools, different roles, different children in front of each of them. The same essential thing. A belief that every child deserves to be seen, to be challenged, and to be believed in.

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Sunday is Mother's Day. Two recognitions, separated by a few days, are doing the same quiet work in our lives. Mothers and the maternal figures who raised us. Teachers and educators who help our children become who they will be. Both meet children where they are. Both give what is needed, when it is needed, in the way it is needed. That is how a child reaches full potential.

So this week, I am going to get out of the way. Our students said it better than I could.

To every educator and staff member who showed up early today, who stayed late, who noticed the quiet kid, who kept a buddy bench dedicated to someone's family so others would know they are not alone … thank you. From me, from our leadership team, from our Board, and from the children who already know, even when they do not yet have the words to tell us.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers and maternal figures in our community.

All my best,

Dr. Rui Dionisio

Superintendent of Schools

Honoring Our 2026 Teachers and Educational Specialists of the Year

At our May Board of Education meeting, we recognized the educators selected by their school communities as Teachers of the Year and Educational Specialists of the Year. These colleagues come from every corner of the district, from preschool classrooms at Edison to multivariable calculus at Fair Lawn High School, from a paraprofessional who knows her students better than anyone to a guidance counselor whose presence steadies an entire building.

Different schools. Different roles. Different children in front of each of them. The same essential belief that every child deserves to be seen, to be challenged, and to be believed in.

Please join us in congratulating this year's honorees. Their work shapes who our students become.

Celebrating Our Retirees &

Twenty-Five Years of Service Honorees

Seventeen colleagues across the district were honored for twenty-five years of service to Fair Lawn Public Schools. A quarter-century in one community is rare. It is also a quiet form of leadership. It is what happens when someone decides, year after year, that this place and these children are worth their best work.

We also recognized colleagues who are stepping into retirement after decades of service to Fair Lawn Public Schools. Their careers span the breadth of this district from classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, maintenance, transportation, food service, and the business office. Several have been with us for more than thirty years.

It is impossible to capture in a column what they have meant to generations of Fair Lawn students and families. What I can say is this: the trust our community has in this district was built, day by day, by people like them. We are grateful for their service and we wish them every good thing in what comes next.

The Starfish Award

The Starfish Award, given by the Fair Lawn Association of Special Education (FLASE) to a staff member who makes a difference in the life of a child with special needs, was presented this year to Mrs. Michelle Gaffney. Mrs. Gaffney has spent a decade in our Bridges program at Fair Lawn High School and twenty-six years in education. She is also retiring this year. Few honors land more accurately. We are grateful for her, and for what she has built here.

Montclair State Recognizes Ms. Sue Gons for Educational Leadership

Beloved Warren Point principal Ms. Sue Gons had much to celebrate April 30 at Montclair State University, earning their Outstanding Professional Achievement in Administration & Supervision Award. MSU’s College for Education and Engaged Learning notes the annual award is a “true reflection of hard work, dedication, and promise in the field.”

Fun fact: did you know Ms. Gons is a homegrown, Fair Lawn grad? She just so happened to attend Warren Point as a kid and has some elementary class photos hanging in her office! Be sure to check it out the next time you’re there.

We are so proud of you and your accomplishments, Sue. Keep shining bright!

Flag Football Player Named Athlete of the Week, Sport Promoted to Varsity Rank

If you missed our social posts last week, we’re thrilled to share that FLHS sophomore Alyssa Patino was named The Record’s Athlete of the Week for flag football. Even more unique, the team heard through the grapevine she’s the first-ever flag-only player to get the nod!

“I hold high standards for myself. I always tell myself the job is not done until it’s done. I maintain that focus throughout the games and the season,” says Patino.

In equally exciting news, we learned the NJSIAA officially voted to make flag football a varsity sport for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year! We wish our team continued success as this sport continues to grow at an exponential rate across New Jersey.

Middle School Poetry Slam Popular with Wordsmiths, Masters of Prose

"Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood." - T.S. Eliot

Students at Memorial and TJ Middle Schools recently came together to perform at their second-annual Poetry Slam. According to Poetry Slam co-creator and MMS teacher Mrs. Margaret Gelbwasser, the event gives students the opportunity to show off their creative writing skills and gain feedback along the way. We're told it's been really nice to link the two schools and watch these wordsmiths work their magic.

Democracy at Work! Civics Students Attend Poll Worker Training

As Ms. Jeanine Hayek tells her Civics students… “Democracy is not a spectator sport!”

Yesterday, members of the Bergen County Board of Elections conducted poll worker training in the FLHS Media Center. Using training equipment that resembles real technology, students learned about properly checking in voters, what happens inside a voting booth, and electronically submitting ballots.

Ms. Hayek and the Board were pleased to see a large turnout - some 36 students signed up - to learn the ins and outs of this work.

About the Fair Lawn Public School District: Fair Lawn Public Schools, where excellence in education meets the vibrant spirit of our community. With a population of over 35,000 residents, Fair Lawn is a thriving hub of diverse cultures, ideas, and talents, and our school district reflects this rich tapestry. Comprising ten schools from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, we are committed to providing a comprehensive and inclusive educational experience for approximately 5,700 students. Our dedicated team of 1,200 staff members works tirelessly to cultivate an environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

The leaders of tomorrow attend Fair Lawn schools today. We believe in nurturing the unique potential of each learner, fostering a love of learning, and preparing students to become compassionate, confident, and contributing members of society in classrooms that are dynamic spaces where personalized instruction, innovation, and collaboration flourish. Fair Lawn Public Schools is a place where students discover their passions, unlock their potential, and embark on a journey of lifelong learning.