By MADDY VITALE
From honoring students who shined in academics and athletics, to the teachers who helped shape and define them throughout the year, Thursday’s Board of Education meeting showcased the top performers and acknowledged their achievements throughout the year both on and off the field.
Students of the month in each of the schools were highlighted during ceremonies by primary school principal Cathy Smith and Curt Nath, director of Academic Services, who filled in for intermediate school principal Michael Mattina and high school principal Wendy O’Neal.
In addition, six high school students who took the 2022 preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test met the requirement to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program, having shown outstanding academic potential, Nath said.
Those students are Bridget Breeden, James Burke, Brandon Douglas, Aili Kelley, Sean Lyons and James Swan.
The meeting also shined a spotlight on the district’s top educators, who were chosen as Teacher of the Year for each of the three schools.
Primary School Teacher of the Year went to first grade teacher Danielle Humphries, who “has been creating an incredible world for her students to grow each and every year in first grade,” Smith said, while reading from a description of Humphries written by her peers.
Advanced placement psychology teacher John Bruno, who has been coaching boys basketball for 32 years, was the high school Teacher of the Year for 2023.
Nath described all that Bruno does to help out the students, educators and the district.
“He helps out with everything — Mr. OCHS, prom, chaperoning. You name it, he helps,” Nath said. “He arrives early in morning and often leaves late at night. He encourages students to be involved.”
Video courtesy of Martin Fiedler, Just Right TV Productions.
While Humphries and Bruno were unable to attend the meeting, intermediate school Teacher of the Year Ashley Schmid was at the meeting.
Schmid, an ESL teacher for all of three of the district schools, always looks out for her students, according to her colleagues.
“The ESL program is small and contained, but does amazing things,” Nath said while reading a statement about Schmid from her colleagues. “Colleagues say she shows incredible dedication to her students and is deeply passionate about her work. She goes to all schools.”
Nath continued, “As a teacher who teaches at all the schools, she has shown an incredible commitment. She attends her students’ events. She is highly involved.”
Student representatives on the Board of Education were also honored for what the board members noted were invaluable insights into the student world.
School board members also spoke of how the three students, Christian Ganter, Lauren Knopp and Isabella Pero, were major assets to the board while providing essential contributions throughout their year of service and dedication.
Among the many highlights of the meeting was the recognition of spring sports and the athletes that proved their strengths.
Athletic Director Michael Pellegrino gave a presentation.
“We had some great accomplishments this spring,” he said. “Tonight, we will recognize these athletes.”
The overall record of all the spring sports was 89-40. That is a 69 percent winning percentage for all of the teams that compete with win/losses in the spring, Pellegrino noted.
There were 465 student athletes in the spring, with 23 Cape-Atlantic League First Team All Stars, four Cape-Atlantic League Champions, three All Americans and three-time Group III State Champion, among other highlights.
“We had a lot going on this spring,” Pellegrino said.
He said to the coaches, parents and student athletes, “It was an honor working with you all and those who are seniors, best of luck to you.”
For more information about Ocean City schools, visit oceancityschools.org.
