At the end of the day Wednesday, faculty and staff strolled into the auditorium for the month faculty meeting, assuming it would be business as usual.  However, the administration had a lovely surprise in store for all: the meeting was a celebration for two well-deserved staff members who have been award Teacher of the Year and Educational Specialist of the Year!

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The 2021/2022 Teacher of the Year is Mr. Ben Schaible, an esteemed member of the Science Department.  Mr. Schaible is currently teaching for his 17th year.  He is beloved by his colleagues, the administration, but most importantly, by the students. Every day, students walk into his classroom, which many say resembles a rain forest,  excited about a new lesson, whether it be about dart frogs, blue morpho butterflies, or a new scientific discovery.

In his classroom, Mr. Schaible and his students are working on multiple, on-going urban farming projects.  On a large scale, his students are actively providing valuable research to NASA scientists who are developing technologies for growing food crops for long-duration missions into deep space. More locally, Mr. Schaible has partnered with a Brick-based community partner to donate the crops from the AP Environmental Science aquaponics harvests every few weeks. These examples of interactive learning environments help students create connections with their food and learn the importance of sustainability in an environmentally stressed world.

As impressive as this is, Mr. Schaible’s educational reach is not limited to the walls of Brick Memorial High School. His development of the district’s Urban Farming Initiative sees him coordinate multiple aqua and hydroponic systems throughout the district. This coordination involves providing setup, troubleshooting, and professional development for the teachers who manage these systems in each school.

But what truly makes Mr. Schaible the perfect candidate for this honor is the love and respect he shows for his students. Students know that when they need an ally, Mr. Schaible is always there to guide them in the right direction, help with all problems, and put a smile on their face.  Yes, teaching science is important, but it’s the long-lasting relationships and bonds that Mr. Schaible makes with his students that makes him an amazing, influential educator.

But what truly makes Mr. Schaible the perfect candidate for this honor is the love and respect he shows for his students. Students know that when they need an ally, Mr. Schaible is always there to guide them in the right direction, help with all problems, and put a smile on their face.  Yes, teaching science is important, but it’s the long-lasting relationships and bonds that Mr. Schaible makes with his students that makes him an amazing, influential educator.

Mr. Schaible is now eligible to be the Brick Township School District Teacher of the Year.

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The 2021/2022 Educational Specialist of the Year is Tracey Reinhard.  Mrs. Reinhard, who spent her first four years as a Mustang in the classroom, is now in her 22nd year as a highly-respected member of the Guidance Department.  During her tenure at Brick Memorial High School, Mrs. Reinhard has helped over 2000 students find their place as a Mustang and beyond.  She is kind, knowledgeable, and always there to help students, faculty, and staff in any capacity.

In recent years, Mrs. Reinhard has taken on a new responsibility: the Brick Memorial Anti-Bullying Specialist, and there is no doubt, she is exceptional at this job as well.  Whenever Mrs. Reinhard is handling a situation, there is never any concern whether or not the correct protocol has been taken.  She also goes out of her way to make sure that all parties in any situation are heard, understood, and guided to making better choices in the future.

As if all of this wasn’t enough, Mrs. Reinhard also works with the chamber of commerce and other members of the community to plan and carry out our annual Career Day.  Career Day is a monumental event at the high school and requires hours upon hours of planning and preparation to bring alumni and other successful community members into the school to share their experiences with our students and help inspire students to explore career paths they may never even know existed.

Mrs. Reinhard has helped more students than any of us can comprehend, and it’s always with a smile and a concern that it’s never enough.  Because to her, it’s never enough.  She can always do more, and the students love her for it!

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Both of the award-winners were nominated by one or more faculty members, who are required to write an essay, fulfilling requirements that go into great detail about the candidates qualifications.  The essays are then read, scored, and discussed by a small panel that consists of administrations, parents, and the former teacher and educational specialist of the year.

Congratulations to both Mr. Schaible and Mrs. Reinhard.  We know that you are both humbled and honored to receive these titles, but it is we, the Mustang Community, that are truly humbled by working with you both each and every day.