When Bianca Castro was selected as one of the Star Students at Guttenberg’s Anna L. Klein elementary school last month by Time Warner Cablevision, the eighth grader was asked to write an essay about the teacher who most influenced her during her educational stay at the school.
For Castro, it was a no-brainer. She picked her health and computer teacher Cheryl Spirig.
“She was like a guidance counselor to me; more than just a teacher,” Castro said. “She always supported me and always gave me good advice. She helped me with any problems that I had. She gave me advice in life as well as school.”
Time Warner Cablevision offers the program that awards students and teachers who have a special relationship. The student is first selected as being a possible Star Student, then the student has to write an essay about the teacher who had the biggest impact on her life.
A panel of judges then decides the best essay among the finalists. In this case, Castro’s piece on Spirig’s influence was chosen by Time Warner as the best in the town.
“For me, it wasn’t about winning and losing,” Castro said. “But it was a good feeling to get recognized.”
For Spirig, the honor caught her totally off guard.
“I didn’t know anything about the final three,” said Spirig, who is also the president of the Guttenberg Education Association. “When I found out, I was overwhelmed. When Bianca read her essay out loud, I was so touched. This is great, because it comes from the student and it comes from the heart. When you learn that you’ve made a difference, then what greater award is there? I was really humbled by it all.”
Both Spirig and Castro were presented with their respective Star trophies at the recent Guttenberg Board of Education meeting. Spirig also received a watch with the school logo from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Penna for her honor.
It was the first time a teacher had been presented with an additional award for the Star Teacher honor.
“We’ve all have had a teacher who was special in our lives,” Penna said. “This is our way to honor the teacher who meant a lot to that student. We feel committed to allow our students express themselves to their teachers. We like to have a positive relationship.”
“It was a big surprise,” Spirig said of receiving the watch. “I had been named Teacher of the Year before, but that came from my peers. This was extra special because it came from a student.”
Spirig has been teaching at the school for 15 years and this was the first time she was named as the Star Teacher.
“I had to point out all the advice that she had given me over the last two years,” Castro said. “She taught me a lot about life and life skills. She made me focus on goals for the future.”
Because of her conversations with Spirig, Castro definitely has career goals in mind. She hopes to get accepted to attend High Tech High School in North Bergen in the fall and would love to eventually study criminology in college.
“When I was little, I would change my career plans every week,” Castro said. “But right now, I’m interested in criminology. Since fifth grade, I’ve been reading mystery stories and now, I really like watching Dragnet on television. It seems like a cool career.”
Spirig knows that Castro has a very bright future.
“Bianca is a very hard worker, a very diligent student,” Spirig said. “She takes the time to ask questions when she doesn’t understand something. She’s a member of the student council and volunteers her time for other activities. You really couldn’t ask for more from a student. She asserts herself and goes after whatever she wants. That’s why I know she will be a successful young lady in whatever she chooses to do.”
Spirig said that she never expected to receive the award for going beyond the call of duty.
“Talking to kids and asking them about their lives was never a part of the job description,” Spirig said. “But it is so important. We spend so much time with the kids. I teach health, and a lot of that is mental health. I tell the kids that they need to talk, express themselves if something is bothering them. You just try to do the best you can.”
And if you try hard enough, perhaps sometimes you can get named as a Star Teacher recipient.