Lenape Valley teacher recognized with Governor's School award

STANHOPE-Lenape Valley Regional High School has named English teacher Marta S. Rivara as the school's 2004-05 Governor's School nominee. In recognition of 25 years of exemplary teaching, Rivara was honored at a luncheon May 7, which included the school's interim superintendent and principal Ray Nazarro and humanities supervisor Judith Grow as her guests. Rivara currently teaches various 11th- and 12th-grade English courses at Lenape, including expressions in literature, composition I and II, contemporary literature, life in literature, modern fiction, and British survey. She cites her school environment as having a profound effect on her teaching. "From students to staff, I am blessed to have been surrounded by a caring, challenging and intellectually high-caliber community," Rivara said. Central to her success in the classroom is her belief that conversation is fundamental to teaching and learning, where "essential questions are discovered" and dialogue extends to students, colleagues, parents, and the school community as well. "Walk into [Rivara's] classroom on any given day, and you'll find excitement," said Grow. She complimented Rivara's many class projects, most recently the creation of illustrated narratives for fourth-graders, a presentation attended by the state's education commissioner, William L. Librera, as well as her establishment of two scholarship programs, her advisory role for the prestigious literary magazine Mind Carpenter, and her dedication to school and community functions.