Kristin Kovatch, a teacher at the North Ward Center's Child Development Center in Newark, has been named "Teacher of the Year," by Newark Public Schools.

Kovach, one of three teachers selected by the district for the annual award, was recognized for her "unbending commitment" to her students throughout her four-year tenure at the preschool.

The annual award is an open acknowledgment of a teacher's effective leadership in the classroom, but Kovatch, who teaches 4- and 5-year-olds at the school located in the Forest Hill section of Newark, sees it somewhat differently.

"For me, this is about helping other educators and being a good representative of the district and the school," she said. "I look forward to incorporating that into my teaching practices and continuing to work toward the best outcomes for my students."

And while Kovatch acknowledged that teaching involves a considerable level of hard work and self-evaluation, it's second nature for her. Hailing from a family of educators—including her mother and her older sister, Danielle Kovatch, also a teacher at The North Ward Center's Child Development Center — she said she has never considered any other profession.

"I was bred to be a teacher," she said, "and our mother was our role model."

A native of Clifton, N.J., Kovatch got her foot in the door as an undergraduate at William Paterson University when Preschool Director Michele Sceppaguercio offered her a position to work part-time as summer help.

"It gave me an opportunity to do my student teaching, but I was thrilled to come on board full-time when I graduated," she said. "They've given me a lot of opportunities to fulfill my goals here."

Dr. Lawrence Feinsod, the executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association, was honored at The North Ward Center's 12th Annual Gala.

The April 4 gala raised more than $500,000 for the expansion of the Robert Treat Academy campus in the Central Ward. Founded by The North Ward Center in 1997, Robert Treat is a nationally recognized charter school with two campuses in Newark.

On his 100th birthday, after the singing and after the cake, Jorge Osorio rose to his feet, bringing calm to the normally vibrant community room at Casa Israel, the adult medical day care center operated by the North Ward Center.

But rather than preserving that calm, the centenarian—in line with an evident zest for life — broke out in song and lead the crowd in a rousing rendition of the timeless ranchera song, "Cielito Lindo," replete with the familiar refrain:

"Ay, ay, ay, ay. Canta y no llores." Sing and don't cry.

Former Interim Newark Superintendent Deborah Terrell, now an educational coordinator for The North Ward Center, was recognized by The Thurgood Marshall College Fund at its 13th Annual Awards of Excellence dinner.

Terrell was one of four award recipients who were recognized at the March 14 event at Nanina's in the Park. Also receiving awards were former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice James Coleman Jr., actor Andre Braugher and the New Jersey Resources Corporation.

The Robert Treat Academy Charter School girl's basketball team won the Charter School Athletic League championships, defeating St. Philips Academy 20-18 in the final game.

Principal Theresa Adubato said winning the League championships brought a new sense of pride to the K-8 school, which is nationally recognized for its lengthy list of academic accomplishments, but has not achieved athletic glory until now. ]]> editor@northwardnews.org (North Ward Center) Robert Treat Academy Sat, 16 Mar 2013 02:56:34 +0000 http://www.northwardnews.org/nwc-news/north-ward-child-development-center/250-childrens-book-helps-kids-parents-identify-moods.html http://www.northwardnews.org/nwc-news/north-ward-child-development-center/250-childrens-book-helps-kids-parents-identify-moods.html Read this article as it originally appeared on Local Talk News | Newark Patch

After class is dismissed and parents have rounded up their children, Vanessa Baldwin-Smith looks out of her classroom window at The North Ward Center Child Development Center, contemplating the view of the New York City skyline. The view is typical of Newark's Forest Hill neighborhood, but inspiring nevertheless.

"It's amazing, isn't it? During the day you can see the neighborhoods but during the winter, when the sun sets early, all you can see is the skyline from this classroom," she says.

Ruiz was presented the award by Father Edwin Leahy, the headmaster of St. Benedicts Prep in Newark.

The award is given annually in honor of Monsignor Geno Baroni, a priest and social activist from Washington, D.C., who inspired and helped Stephen N. Adubato, Sr. found The North Ward Center in 1970. The event, held Tuesday, November 20, in a room at The North Ward Center named after the monsignor, marked the 27th year that the award has been given out.

Surrounded by her two children, three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, Herminia Chavez celebrated her 104th Birthday with a party that included her two children, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren along with dozens of her friends at the Center.

Parents, friends, local politicians, and even a White Sox baseball player came to support the students, who were each awarded $1,000 at the Sept. 13 event held under the tent on the grounds of the Center's headquarters on Mt. Prospect Avenue.

Robert Treat Academy teacher Patricia Roemer was presented with the Axelrod Award, recognizing her for her outstanding work in teaching the Holocaust, genocide, and the importance of tolerance to students at the Newark charter school.

The award was presented to Roemer by Susan Aguado Axelrod, daughter of Honey and Maurice Axelrod, during morning exercises at the school on Aug. 16. Also on hand was Holocaust survivor Gina Lanceter who has visited the school many times, sharing with students how she survived the Holocaust.