Hilldale Teacher Named YMCA's Educator of the Year

One of own was recognized by the Lakeland Hills Family YMCA as the organization’s choice for Educator of the Year.

Jennifer O’John, who was also recently named the Teacher of the Year at Hilldale Elementary, attended Tuesday night’s meeting of the to receive a Certificate of Achievement.

According to a letter from the YMCA read by Board of Education President Karen Cortellino, the YMCA received a half-dozen nominations for O’John to receive the award “all of them extolling her strong commitment to her students, her school and the township of Montville.”

O’John had many people to thank on Tuesday night, including her colleagues. One colleague of note is Hilldale Elementary School Principal Marianne Dispenziere, who has been a pillar of support for the second-grade teacher.

“[Dispenziere has] been supporting me for the last 15 years as both my principal and my friend,” O’John said.

O’John also noted the support that she has received this year and in the past from parents and students.

“My students this year, and their families, never miss an opportunity to thank me and tell me all of the things I’m doing right,” O’John said. “It was all of their kind words that led me to this award.”

Overall, the strong community where O’John has taught for the past 15 years has been a large motivating factor for her to keep striving forward.

“I am lucky enough to be doing all of this in a town, which I love,” O’John said.

O'John will now be honored at the Lakeland Hills Family YMCA’s annual dinner and awards presentation, which will take place at the Parsippany Sheraton hotel on May 22 at 6 p.m.