Parsippany‑Troy Hills honors teachers of the year and recognizes retirees

The Parsippany‑Troy Hills Township School District paused its regular agenda on June 10 to present Teacher of the Year awards and honor retiring staff.

Board President Allison Kogan called the awards ceremony after the student report and invited Dr. Moloney to begin. Winners from across the district — including Antonio Hernandez (Brooklyn Middle School), Sucal (Central Middle School), Sharon Matisac (East Lake), Lisa Barfus (Intervale School), and Emily Rogers (Parsippany Hills High School) — were introduced and given a standing recognition by the board.

"I am truly honored to accept this teacher of the year award," said Antonio Hernandez, who described starting as a teacher in the district and called the recognition meaningful because it came from the community that raised him. "To be recognized by the very community that helped raise me is truly meaningful." (Antonio Hernandez)

Several recipients framed the awards as team honors and reflected on long careers in the district. Sharon Matisac said, "It takes a village to raise a child," and credited colleagues across roles — paraprofessionals, counselors, custodians and administrators — for supporting student learning. (Sharon Matisac)

The board also recognized 25‑year service recipients and called roughly 20 retirees by name; some retirees accepted the invitation to speak from the lectern and shared brief reflections. The program concluded with a short recess for refreshments before the board returned to its regular meeting.

Why this matters: The ceremony highlighted continuity and staff retention across the district at a moment when administrators and board members also discussed facilities and program planning. The board used the event to publicly acknowledge both current-year award winners and long‑serving staff scheduled to retire.

The meeting resumed after the recess and proceeded to committee reports and business items.