Lauren Francis and Denise Tonzillo - Educator and Educational Service Professional Winners
Character.org, a leading advocate for character development in schools and organizations, has recognized Eldridge Park Elementary School and Lawrence High School for their joint program “LHS Cardinal Mentors for Student Success,” and Lawrence Middle School for its “Be a Cardinal Day.”
At the May 22, 2024 Board of Education meeting, the Lawrence Township Board of Education approved Ms. Kristin Burke as the new principal of Lawrenceville Elementary School. Burke, who currently serves as the K-6 Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) Supervisor for the district brings a wealth of experience as well as a deep personal connection to her new role. Burke’s history with Lawrenceville Elementary is a testament to her love of, and commitment to, the school and district. She began her academic journey as an elementary school student at Lawrenceville Elementary School and later accepted her very first teaching position there, going on to teach both second and third grades.
At the May 22, 2024 Board of Education meeting, the Lawrence Township Board of Education approved Dr. Damian Bariexca as the new K-6 Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) Supervisor. Bariexca is proud to have been a New Jersey public school educator since 2000, and a mainstay in Lawrence Township Public Schools since 2011, serving as a school psychologist, instructional supervisor, and high school assistant principal during his time in the district.
At the May 7, 2024 Board of Education meeting, the Lawrence Township Board of Education approved Ms. Ebony Lattimer as the new principal of Slackwood Elementary School. Ebony Lattimer brings more than twenty years of experience in education, with a proven track record of creating equitable learning communities for each child. Ms. Lattimer’s journey in education has been marked by a passion for curriculum, a dedication to inclusion and meeting the learning needs of all children, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
Lawrence Township Public Schools is exploring a strategic restructuring of grade level distributions to create a more developmentally and academically appropriate environment for all of our students. This research-backed initiative involves a five-year vision to transition to grade bands of third through fifth, and sixth through eighth, aligning our district with the State Department of Education recommended model. Research consistently shows that this grade level distribution better aligns with the cognitive and social-emotional development of students, providing an environment where they can thrive academically and developmentally. Lawrence Township Public Schools recognizes the importance of these transitional years and believes that this structure better prepares our students for the academic challenges ahead. Furthermore, by embracing true “upper elementary” and “middle school” models as opposed to the current hybrid, quasi-middle school approach, we address our families wish to keep our kids “young” by housing our students in an elementary building longer.
The next Board of Education (BOE) meeting is Wednesday, October 9, at Lawrence High School (2525 Princeton Pike). The public portion begins at 7PM and will be livestreamed here: https://www.ltps.org/rewind.
