HOBOKEN– Two teachers from the Hoboken Charter School have been nominated for the 2016-2017 national LifeChanger of the Year Award.
Middle School math teacher Chris Kunkel and music teacher Sean Gavarny were nominated for the honor by parents of students they teach.
Kunkels nominator said “Mr. Kunkel is a hard worker who not only covers his core topic of math, but all areas of STEM….He has a passion for learning and exploration that shows in his interests and in the activities he introduces. This growth mindset ends up creating educational opportunities and experiences for students that would not otherwise be available.”
Gavarny’s nominator Valerie Sessa said “Mr. Gavarny sets high standards for students that are reflected through high-quality, enjoyable concerts twice a year. Students not only learn about music, but about having grit and dedication, as an example, my child began playing the saxophone in fourth grade. with mr. Gavarny’s support, guidance, and demand for practice hours, they learned that practicing a little each day led to a drastic improvement in their performance.”
The national LifeChanger of the Year Award sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation recognizes and rewards the best k-12 public and private educators and employees across the U.S. who are making a difference in the lives of their students.
The competition receives hundreds of nominations from across the U.S. and will award LifeChanger of the Year awards to 15 individuals.
Winners are chosen by a selection committee comprised of former winners and educational professionals and are selected based on specific criteria including an ability to make a beneficial difference in the lives of students, an ability to positively add to the development of the schools atmosphere, involvement in leadership activities, adherence to high moral and ethical standards and more.
Each winner will receive a cash award which will be split between the individual winner and their school. The Grand Prize award is $10 thousand. Winners will be announced in Spring of 2017.
For more information on the contest and the nominees go to the links below.
Mr. Kunkel’s page: https://lifechangeroftheyear.com/chris-kunkel/
Mr. Gavarny’s page: https://lifechangeroftheyear.com/sean-gavarny/
LifeChanger Award information: https://lifechangeroftheyear.com/showspirit/