DeLeeuw rewarded by successes of her students

Byram - Barbara DeLeeuw has been teaching in Byram for 28 years. This year she has been honored with two awards for her dedication to her students as a resource room teacher- the district Teacher of the Year Award and The Governors Award for Teacher Recognition. DeLeeuw started working for the Byram school district right after she graduated from the former Trenton State University. Her sister-in-law was working for the school and told her of an opening due to maternity leave. When that teacher returned from her leave, the school hired DeLeeuw full time, and she’s been there ever since. She first taught for a year at the Intermediate School, then at the old Consolidated school for six years, then back at the Intermediate school, and has been at the Lakes School since it opened four years ago. Students come to her for help with reading, language arts and math. Her goal as a resource room teacher is “to try to find their strengths and build on them, and then fill in the gaps, give them some coping skills, build their confidence and turn them into successful students,” explained DeLeeuw. DeLeeuw loves to see her students achieve their goals, as did one student whom she had from third to seventh grades, because of her own changing of schools. “She’ll graduate from Centenary College. She’s now a student teacher in Stanhope - and she did some of her observations here. She’s going to be a Math teacher. Her strength was always math. Stories like this show ‘why I do this job’.” She was notified of her teacher of the year award about one week after hearing about the Governor’s award. “The principal, Dr. Tom Podgurksi, came to my door and told me. I was surprised.” Her husband Pete’s reaction was a very proud one, “It’s about time,” he jested, knowing how hard working she is for her students. The teacher of the year award is given to a new teacher each year by a committee made up of former winners, Board of Education members and the Principal. The Governor’s Award is given through nomination of her peers. DeLeeuw will be presented with a plaque later this year at a lunch given for the teachers by the Board of Education.