Each year, one teacher is honored with the title of Teacher of the Year.  For the 2015-2016 school year, art teacher Michael Bober  received this prestigious title.  

In November, principal Karen Bingert sent out an invitation to all students, parents, and staff members to nominate teachers and staff members for the annual Teacher of the Year and Educational Service Professional of the Year awards.

Each nominee for the positions were scored on a rubric in various aspects.  The nominee with the highest score was awarded with the title he or she was nominated for.

“The second-best (next to this one) award I ever received was a free pizza per month to a pizzeria near my childhood home,” Bober said.  “Arturo’s in Maplewood, which is delicious, by the way. They also hung my drawing up on their wall even though, I’ll be honest, the drawing was nothing special.”

Bober was surprised by administrators with flowers and a balloon in front of his students telling him the exciting news that he had won Teacher of the Year.

“It was very heartwarming,” Bober said.  “I am very grateful to those who nominated me and who were responsible for choosing me.”

Along with his new title, Bober has also been given a reserved parking spot on campus.  

“I wasn’t surprised to hear that Mr. Bober received teacher of the year,” fellow art teacher Veronique DeGroot said.  “He is very dedicated to his job and always makes his students a priority.  They are very lucky to have him as a teacher!”

Bober’s students echoed DeGroot’s sentiments.

“Video and film with Mr.Bober might have been my favorite class,” sophomore Domenick Mazzaferro said.  “Mr.Bober made the class interesting, and I always looked forward to going to video and film.”

Not only does Bober teach video and film, but he also teaches cartooning and an adaptive art class for students with special needs. Additionally, Bober is one of the advisers for the Peer Mentoring program.  

Bober is also known throughout the community for taking his own time outside of school hours to work with the special education children in our school, showing his true dedication and passion of his job. 

“Mr.Bober definitely deserves being Teacher of the Year,” sophomore Arshdeep Saran said.  “I loved having him as a teacher.”