Community Corner

Spanish Instructor Named Teacher Of The Year

Stacey Gotesman is honored by the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders. Gottesman, teaches Spanish at DePaul Catholic High School. One of her students nominated her for the award.

Stacey Gottesman has been named the Educator of the Year by the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders.

Gottesman, a Wayne resident, is a Spanish teacher at . She has taught there for 12 years.

Gottesmann is known to put in extra time with students when they need the help. That happened to Grace Hawruk this past school year.

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Hawruk suffers from Tourette Syndrome. She missed a considerable amount of instructional time after having surgery. Gottesman worked with Hawruk, tutoring her on a regular basis so she would not fall behind in her lessons.

Hawruk nominated Gottesman for the award.

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Gottesman’s kindness towards Hawruk was evident before, and after, the surgery.

“My Tourette often affects my schoolwork and not every teacher is understanding of that,” Hawruk said in a press release issued by the (CTS). “When I told Ms. Gottesman about my Tourette, she was understanding and shared that her friend, too, had the disorder. She knows I struggle with my tics sometimes and understands my need to move and squeak.”

Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder charactertized by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics. These may includie include eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, and talking.

Since 2003, the Center has awarded 13 Educator of the Year awards. 

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