Kids & Family

Brooks Crossing Teacher Honored for Work with Aspiring Educators

Blair Eiseman recognized by Rider University for mentoring prospective teachers.

Rider University’s Teacher Leadership Community has named four recipients of this year’s Cooperating Teacher Excellence Award, and honored them at a ceremony held on the university campus.

The award, currently in its third year, recognizes educators who provided exemplary mentorship to a Rider student teacher. Suzanne Gespass, Ph.D., director of Field Placement at Rider University, said student teachers nominate the award winners “for being truly instrumental in their development as a professional.” 

She added, “We are proud to recognize the important work teachers do. These individuals have been strong mentors to new teachers, and have made a lasting contribution to the field of education.”

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This year’s Cooperating Teacher Excellence Award recipients included Blair Eiseman of Brooks Crossing Elementary School in Monmouth Junction. 

Eiseman was nominated for the award by Rider student teacher Jessica Manka.

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In her nomination letter, Manka wrote, “On my very first day, I knew I had a special experience and teacher awaiting me. She created a desk for me with a poem that the children wrote. Next to it was a card and a bamboo plant for luck. She insisted that ‘the only way to learn it is to live it.’”  

Manka went on to say that Eiseman supported her every day, and involved her in the school community, taking her to meetings and after-school activities. "Stressful experiences were always made easier knowing that I had her support. On my last day, we were both crying and she gave me a big hug. When the children asked why we were crying, Ms. Eiseman explained how student teaching was the last step of my college career and it was emotional for me and rewarding for her to be a part of this journey. I know that I had the most supportive cooperating teacher anyone could ever be lucky enough to have,” Manka wrote.

Eiseman and her fellow award recipients were presented with a plaque at the Rider University Student Teacher Wrap-Up Celebration, attended by staff, students, family and friends.

Eiseman is also a Rider University alumna, graduating in 2005.

Heather Lerch, chair of Rider’s Teacher Leadership Committee, said, “We offer our sincere congratulations to this year’s award recipients, and thank each of them for their dedication to our programs and our student teachers. The quality of their mentoring is representative of the highest levels of our profession, and we are proud to work together as we prepare tomorrow’s educators.”

Rider University’s School of Education prepares undergraduate and graduate students for professional careers in education, organizations and agencies. Rider was the first private New Jersey institution to hold the highest accreditation possible in teaching from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).  To learn more about Rider’s School of Education, visit http://www.rider.edu/soe.


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