page 10 GlenRock CommunityGuide 2017-2018
Andthe Ax Award goes to …. BY JOSEPH RITACCO, EDITOR
During an annual rite of summer, the Middle School / High School Home & School Association( HSA) presented its Robert H. AxAwards to adeserv- ing teacher at each school. This year’ s recipients were recently-retired high school language arts teacher Ann Comarato and middle school dance teacher Joanne Brown. The award was createdin1969 when Robert Axretired as principal of Glen Rock High School. He established the following criteria for selection of the winners: A teacher who has met the challenge of developing the full potential of the student, is the one who aspired to teach with love, wisdom, patience and enthusiasm, and regularly exhibits the qualities ofpersonal integrity and dedication to the teaching ideals of Principal Robert H. Ax.
Comarato, who retired after 33 years of teaching, spent her career helping students love words on the page and the stage. Prior to joining the Glen Rock school system, she taught English and drama at Park Ridge High School, where she also directed the fall and spring musical and became the first acting coach for“ Sopranos” star James Gandolfini. She later worked for three years atRaritan High School and two years at Glen Rock Middle School, before transferring to Glen Rock High School, where she taught public speaking, English and journalism and directed the school musical.
Her students are quick to point out that she greeted everyone with asmile and made literature come alive inthe classroom, while colleagues describe her as aconsummate professional who helped out wherever she was needed.
Brown, whohas taught dance atGlen Rock Middle School since 2002, enrolled in her first dance class as child growing up in Hackensack. She later attended the University of Maryland, where she focused on modern dance while touring, producing shows and taking courses on working with children. After graduation, she joined acollaborative
Glen Rock Middle School Exploratory Arts teacher Joanne Brown, left, and Glen Rock High School Language Arts teacher Ann Comarato get ready to cut their congratulatory cake atthe 2017 Robert Axawards ceremony.
dance company in Connecticut and continued her lessons with major dancers in New York City. She later moved to the city to pursue dancing in the modern dance scene. After marrying and starting a family, she moved to New Jersey and began working at the Center for Modern Dance and Bergen Dancenter. Working as a teaching artist at various public schools through New Jersey Performing Arts Center and sharing her talents with special needs students during summers inspired her to teach full-time.
As an educator, she works at linking dance with the curriculum in other subjects, and helping students work through their struggles.
Comarato and Brown were honored in June at ajoint faculty meeting of high school and middle school educators.“ We keep the winners a secret and invite their family and friends,” said John Arlotta, principal of Glen Rock High School.“ We have a reception and surprise them.”
Arlotta credited the HSA for handling the entire process, and said the nomination process and award presentation are met with great enthusiasm. ◆
COURTESY OF ANDREA TAHINOS