Concetta Spano, alumna of the History and Culture Concentration,
recently received the 2012 New Jersey Governor’s Teacher Recognition
Award for the Hopatcong School District. More importantly, she reports,
“The greatest gift was my students telling me that I am the best teacher
and many saying I am ‘awesome.’ It brought tears to my eyes.
Spano first became interested in becoming a teacher while she was in
high school. Inspired by President Herbert Hoover’s quote, “Children are
our most valuable resource,” she chose to volunteer at a middle school
to help troubled adolescents. There she discovered she has a real talent
and passion for teaching. She went on to complete her bachelor’s degree
in elementary education (K-8) and began to work for Hopatcong Middle
School. Spano lives by Dr. Robert H. Shaffer’s philosophy on teaching:
“We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled, but as
candles to be lit.” She enjoys each child and encourages their
individual gifts. Spano’s pupils exclaim, “Mrs. Spano we love that you
come every day and just listen to us.”
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