Montclair Public Schools - NJ

Sixteen Montclair Public Schools teachers and one school counselor were named winners of the 2026 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching, selected from nominations submitted by MPS parents/caregivers, students, and colleagues.

During a standing room only ceremony, this years honorees were recognized and celebrated by family, friends, colleagues and students.

2026 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching Honorees

Inspired Counseling Award: Amillah Williamson, Nishuane Elementary School
Inspiring Peer Award: Ashley Dorian Storfer, Montclair High School
Luke Fess, Special Education Award, Buzz Aldrin Middle School
Catherine Bangs, Bradford Elementary School
Shannon Becker-Fyfe, Montclair High School
Christen Berman-Schiralli, Watchung Elementary School
Michele Campbell Kinnas, Buzz Aldrin Middle School
Elizabeth Cario, Glenfield Middle School
Jenna De Pasquale, Nishuane Elementary School
Christian Hart, Hillside Elementary School
Lei Haiting Liang, Montclair High School
Jessica Little, Charles H. Bullock Elementary School
Miosotty Martinez, Montclair High School
Max Mellman, Edgemont Montessori Elementary School
Jessica Michaud, Bradford Elementary School
Karyn Mosca, Northeast Elementary School
Dana Spagnuolo, Renaissance at Rand Middle School
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Today was a big day for the 2nd graders at Nishuane! They toured Hillside today and now families are enjoying the Nishuane to Hillside Transition Picnic. Thank you !!!

Dear Montclair Community,

As we begin LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Montclair Public Schools proudly joins communities across the nation in recognizing and celebrating the contributions, achievements, resilience, and lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Throughout our district, LGBTQ+ students, staff members, families, alumni, and community members help make Montclair a stronger, more vibrant, and more compassionate place to learn, work, and grow. Their talents, leadership, creativity, and advocacy enrich our schools and contribute meaningfully to the culture of belonging we strive to foster every day.

At Montclair Public Schools, we believe that every person deserves to be seen, valued, respected, and affirmed for who they are. We remain committed to creating learning environments where all students feel safe, supported, and empowered to reach their fullest potential. We also recognize the importance of ensuring that every staff member, family, and community member feels welcomed and respected within our school communities.

Pride Month is both a celebration and an opportunity for reflection. It reminds us of the importance of truly embracing diversity, honoring authenticity, and continuing the work of building inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive. Our schools are strongest when every individual feels they can show up as their authentic self, living openly, proudly, and unapologetically as who they are.

As we celebrate Pride Month, I encourage our students, staff, families, and community members to learn from one another, engage in meaningful conversations, and continue fostering understanding, empathy, and respect across our district.

Please be sure to review communications from your individual schools regarding upcoming Pride Month activities, educational opportunities, and events for students and families throughout the month of June.

Thank you for helping make Montclair Public Schools a community where every individual belongs and every voice matters.

Happy Pride Month!

Sincerely,
Ruth B. Turner
Superintendent of Schools
Montclair Public Schools

Three Watchung Fourth graders were Winners in the “My Essex County” Poster Contest. They attended a ceremony to honor the winner(s) in the lobby of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Justice Building in Newark. Essex County Clerk Christopher J. Durkin presented an award to each student. CONGRATULATIONS STUDENTS!!

Two exciting events happening TODAY! Come out and enjoy some family fun activities. Both of these events provide an opportunity to have fun hands-on experiences, enjoy entertainment, access resources and information and more. #

Dear Montclair Public Schools Community,

As we approach Memorial Day weekend, we pause as a community and as a nation to honor the brave servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Their courage, selflessness, and commitment to protecting the freedoms we enjoy each day deserve our deepest gratitude and remembrance.

Memorial Day is more than the unofficial beginning of summer. It is a time of reflection, remembrance, and appreciation for those who gave their lives in service to others. It is also an opportunity to recognize the families who continue to carry the weight of that sacrifice and to honor the generations of veterans and military families whose service has shaped our nation and communities.

In our schools, we believe it is important that students not only learn history, but also understand the values connected to service, citizenship, compassion, and community. Moments such as Memorial Day remind us of the importance of coming together, caring for one another, and recognizing that our individual actions contribute to the strength and well-being of the larger community around us.

As the school year continues to move quickly toward its close, I also want to thank our students, staff, families, and community partners for the care, resilience, and commitment you continue to demonstrate each day. Even during challenging moments, the Montclair community continues to show up for one another with generosity, compassion, and hope. That spirit is what makes this community so special.

On behalf of the Montclair Board of Education and Montclair Public Schools, I wish all our families a peaceful, safe, and meaningful Memorial Day weekend. May we take time to reflect, honor, and remember those whose sacrifice will never be forgotten.

With gratitude,

Ruth B. Turner

Superintendent of Schools

Montclair Public Schools

Congratulations to our students who participated in Model Congress. We were honored to have Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill and Commissioner Brendan Gill join us as well as a BAMS/MHS Alum, who inspired the students to be passionate about something and go after it and don’t let fear make decisions for you