Janet Kavanagh never thought that she would be anything other than a kindergarten teacher.
“I used to come home from school and play teacher,” said Kavanagh last week in an interview after her students were dismissed for the day.
Kavanagh, who has taught kindergarten for 34 years, was named teacher of year for Harry L. Bain School in West New York as part of the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Program on March 13.
“When you really enjoy doing something,” said Kavanagh about being honored with the recognition, “it just comes off right.”
Seven other teachers were recognized as part of the Teacher Recognition Program that day.
The teachers being honored are: Early Childhood teacher Connie Flannagan; Carmen Reyes from Public School No. 1; Christine Buckman from Public School No. 2; Ann Carlovich from Public School No. 3; Gail Peterman from Public School No. 4; Rosemary Ferrainolo from Public School No. 5; Janet Kavanagh from Harry L. Bain School; and Elspeth Corrigan from Memorial High School.
A rarity
In Kavanagh’s 34 years with the West New York Board of Education, she has worked in four of the district’s six elementary schools. However, after moving around she realized that not that many people really want to be a kindergarten teacher.
“I don’t think anyone really wants to be a kindergarten teacher,” said Kavanagh, explaining that she has worked with many teachers over the years who have since moved on to other grades. “They all stick with teaching, just not kindergarten.”
Kavanagh said that she likes the innocence you find in children in kindergarten.
“They say what is on their minds,” said Kavanagh adding that the children are very blunt at that age. “But they are not mean. It is pure innocence. I just like listening to them.”
“No matter how bad you look, they always tell you you look beautiful,” added Kavanagh.
Although Kavanagh is retiring at the end of the school year, she says that she will still come back to visit.
Kavanagh plans on substitute teaching and possibly visiting the class for lunch. “This way I can still be with the children, just not on a daily basis,” she said.
Being nominated
Teachers were nominated by parents, administrators, colleagues or students. Each teacher will be presented with a brass apple by the Board of Education, and is Teacher of the Year for their school.
The teachers selected based on the following criteria: use of effective instructional techniques, establishment of productive classroom climate and rapport with students, and development of feeling of self-worth and love of learning in children.
These teachers are eligible for the title of teacher of the year for the district, the county and the state. Last year Marcia Rosen from Memorial High School was named Hudson County’s Teacher of the Year.