For immediate release: May 26, 2011
Media contact: Martin Mbugua, (609) 258-5733, mmbugua@princeton.edu
Princeton honors exceptional secondary school teachers
PRINCETON, N.J. -- Princeton University will honor four exceptional New Jersey secondary
school teachers at its 2011 Commencement on Tuesday, May 31.
This year's honorees are Kathleen Chesmel, New Egypt High School, New Egypt; Robert
Downes, Mountain Lakes High School, Mountain Lakes; Rachel Grygiel, Hoboken High School,
Hoboken; and Donata Nicholas, East Orange Campus High School, East Orange.
The teachers were selected for the award from 64 nominations from public and private schools
around the state. Each teacher will receive $5,000, as well as $3,000 for his or her school library.
"What distinguishes this year's winners is their intellectual leadership among their colleagues and
in their communities," said Christopher Campisano, director of Princeton's Program in Teacher
Preparation. "These four outstanding teachers are among the most highly respected members of
their respective faculties and administrations -- serving as role models, coaches and
mentors. Their absence would be a tremendous loss to the life of each institution. They are a
constant and indelible source of inspiration for their students, and they hold fast to the belief that
all students can learn to high levels of understanding. They truly represent what is best in the
teaching profession, and we have much to learn from their wisdom."
The staff of the Program in Teacher Preparation selected 11 finalists, each of whom was visited
at work by an observer. Finalists were selected by a committee that was chaired by Dean of the
College Nancy Malkiel and included Campisano, two Princeton professors and two external
education professionals.
Princeton has honored secondary school teachers since 1959. The University received an
anonymous gift from an alumnus to establish the program.
Following is information about the honorees:
Kathleen Chesmel
For Kathleen Chesmel, teaching is never simply about making sure students get the right
answers. Whether through her work as a celebrated science teacher at New Egypt High School,
adviser for the school's drill team or choreographer for the school's annual musical productions,
Chesmel approaches each task with the same goal in mind -- to teach students to think
independently.
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Since coming to New Egypt in 2002, Chesmel has taught both general and honors chemistry,
integrated lab science and introductory forensics, approaching each course with a holistic
emphasis on the importance of student inquiry, independent growth and individual
transformation. Both Chesmel's peers and students alike praise the former research scientist's
ability to convert seemingly impenetrable scientific topics into understandable and interesting
concepts.
In nominating Chesmel for the award, New Egypt principal Tom Farrell said, "Dr. Chesmel is
very open-minded and welcomes new ideas and concepts regularly. She offers students the
aptitude to both learn and apply knowledge, along with an enthusiastic approach to her daily
responsibilities and objectives."
Patricia Wunsch, director of bands, choirs and musicals, remarked in her nomination letter that
Chesmel -- who has helped direct six musical productions and choreographed seven marching
band shows -- often incorporates nontraditional methods of teaching, which include integrating
the arts "into her chemistry pedagogy." Wunsch added, "Kathy creates lesson plans, review
materials and assessments that allow students to integrate elements of music, fine art, theater,
dance and digital media."
Chesmel's students recall the myriad projects she has designed over the years to help them learn
about chemistry, ranging from making their own commercials to writing raps about polymers.
"Dr. Chesmel did not spoon-feed the answers to me," recalled New Egypt graduate Elisa Tang.
"Rather, she taught me the importance of self-sufficiency and researching the answers on my
own -- something that I will be expected to do in college, in the workplace and in life."
In espousing her educational philosophy, Chesmel cited her faith in the power of learning
through inquiry and her goal to create "learners who can obtain and analyze the information
needed to answer the 'whys' and 'hows' of life."
"I strongly believe that there is a difference between remembering a piece of knowledge and
being able to use that knowledge in ways to understand new situations," Chesmel said. "To help
my students really own their knowledge, I provide opportunities in the classroom for students to
ask questions and create their own solutions to well-planned problems, encouraging them to
move beyond 'getting the right answer.'"
Chesmel received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Princeton in 1985 and a
Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991.
Robert Downes
When Robert Downes' students and colleagues describe the Mountain Lakes High School
mathematics teacher, the word that comes up most often is "positive."
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"Every student wants to be in Mr. Downes' class because he is one of the most positive people
any of us have ever met," said Mountain Lakes principal Anne Mucci in nominating Downes for
the award. "He greets every student with a cheerful smile, welcomes them into the classroom and
makes that portion of the building a very happy place. The unbelievable thing about this feeling
is the moment one crosses the threshold into his classroom there is an immediate seriousness of
purpose that permeates the air."
It is this fusion of good nature and seriousness of scholarly purpose that has allowed Downes to
garner the reputation of being able to transform difficult, sometimes dry mathematical concepts
into engaging and exciting intellectual explorations. Since arriving at Mountain Lakes in 1992,
Downes has not only challenged the most advanced students, he has also imbued struggling
students with previously undiscovered levels of confidence.
Former Mountain Lakes student Christopher Dewing said that Downes "constantly found new
ways to encourage all students despite differences in skill level," adding that "Mr. Downes taught
class in a way that encouraged us to not only learn math, but to love and understand it."
In addition to teaching AP calculus, AP statistics and honors pre-calculus, Downes also serves as
an adviser to the math society, helps coordinate math contests, coaches track and is a Boy Scout
troop leader.
Christina Laurenzi, a Princeton sophomore and former student of Downes', recalled being
intimidated by the idea of taking one of his classes, having "heard how difficult his classes were,
and since math was never my strongest subject." After just two class periods, however, Laurenzi
said she was at ease for the rest of the semester.
"Although he wanted his students to succeed and genuinely understand the material, he did not
guide us through step by step; rather, he let us take the initiative and chart out our own ways of
comprehending," said Laurenzi. "I also learned with time that beneath his somewhat demanding
teaching style, Mr. Downes exuded a warmth and openness that made him accessible and very
likeable."
Reflecting on his 24 years of teaching, Downes said he has always strived to not only instill in
students a love of math, but a sense of how their education in his classroom will extend beyond
the academic setting of school and into the world beyond.
Said Downes, "I strive to create an environment where all students can maximize their potential,
to address any fears or misconceptions they may have, and to provide them with an experience
that will enable them to think critically and become better problem solvers."
Downes received his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Moravian College in 1986, earned
his master's degree from California State University-Long Beach in 1991 and has pursued
doctoral studies at the Stevens Institute of Technology.
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Rachel Grygiel
Teaching in an urban school district, Rachel Grygiel faces challenges that go above and beyond
getting students to perform well on tests -- and the Hoboken High School social studies teacher
has exceeded expectations.
"In essence, Ms. Grygiel does more with less," Daniel Loughran, Hoboken's supervisor of
curriculum and instruction, said. "The respect and admiration she has garnered from students,
along with her colleagues and the community at large, comes as a direct result of Ms. Grygiel's
insistence that students work hard and that they live up to their potential. A student in Ms.
Grygiel's class is always challenged to be his or her best."
Hoboken senior Francis Howitt said Grygiel pushes students with academic rigor as well as
entertaining lesson plans and assignments, such as one that involved making interactive family
trees that had each student exploring his or her ancestry.
"Ms. Grygiel is a very rare teacher. She understands what needs to be done to excite students
about their work," said Howitt. "She always seems to find new ways to implement her lesson
plans through fun and interesting activities."
One example of such an activity is Grygiel's "Veteran's Project," in which students are assigned
to interview World War II veterans who live in Hoboken, edit the interview footage and then
send the mini-documentaries to the Library of Congress.
"It's one thing to read in textbooks what happens during war, but to hear the stories that these
veterans told with raw emotions truly touched the hearts of everyone involved," recalled former
student Samantha Rotondi. "Ms. Grygiel teaches more than history; she teaches life lessons that
will never be forgotten. She teaches you how to become a better person."
Since joining the Hoboken faculty in 2001, Grygiel has excelled at teaching U.S. history and
International Baccalaureate history of the Americas, and also has become involved with several
initiatives designed to better the school and its surrounding community. For example, she helped
establish the International Baccalaureate program at Hoboken and has included the school in an
exchange program in which journalists from Europe visit to see what life is like for American
high school students.
Grygiel also is coach of the girls' soccer team, adviser for the Hoboken High School Excellence
Awards, adviser for the Harvard Model Congress Club, and co-founder and adviser of the Sierra
Club's Inner City Outings outreach program at the school.
"Over my 10 years of being an educator, I have learned that the best lessons are the ones that the
kids lead," said Grygiel, who earned her bachelor's degree in history from Georgetown
University in 1998 and her master's degree in administration and supervision from St. Peter's
College in 2005.
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"Whether it's a writing assignment, video documentary or group discussion, you have to put the
power in their hands," she said. "Some days I accomplish this by feigning ignorance; other days
it is done genuinely by sharing my curiosity, while on others it is done by learning right
alongside my students in order to hook them. And there's nothing quite like the energy of a
classroom when the students are running the program."
Donata Nicholas
Teaching high school chemistry and physics comes ready-made with its own unique challenges.
When those challenges are combined with supporting an underserved population, it takes a
teacher like Donata Nicholas of East Orange Campus High School to overcome them.
"What I believe to be her truly invaluable contribution to the science department is her desire to
create bridges that connect our school community and the world science community," said Asha
Parayanthal, chair of the school's science department.
"She truly believes that our students deserve the best, most challenging comprehensive science
program that can be offered," Parayanthal added. "Ms. Nichols works tirelessly to understand her
students' strengths and weaknesses and to build connections with them that will allow her to
challenge them to acquire the skills they need to not only be successful in the classroom but in
life."
Nicholas joined the East Orange faculty in 2003, focusing her teaching skills on both honors and
college prep courses in chemistry and physics. In nominating Nicholas for the award, fellow East
Orange teacher David Mwangi said that on more than one occasion he has "been moved by her
success in engaging the students and the excellent relationship she has cultivated with them,"
adding that Nicholas "is so selfless that she meets with struggling students after school hours for
tutoring and extra help. I have seen firsthand the way her students respect and hold her in high
regard."
Nicholas has also taken significant steps toward broadening the scientific education experience at
East Orange. For example, she initiated the Advanced Placement chemistry program at the high
school during her first full year of teaching. Also, during the 2009-10 school year, Nicholas
initiated a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) seminar series in which
local scientists discussed their research.
To enhance her knowledge of new and innovative content areas and teaching strategies, Nicholas
recently participated in two New Jersey teaching development programs, including one focused
on using robotics in medicine.
Erika Clerjuste, a senior at East Orange, said, "As a young adult preparing to enroll in college
next year, I realize that the best teachers are not the ones who accept you as you are, but the ones
who accept you for what they believe you can be. Ms. Nicholas is by far the most patient and
encouraging teacher I have come across during my high school career."
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Nicholas, who received her bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware in 1986 and her
master's degree in teaching from Montclair State University in 2009, said, "What makes me a
successful teacher beyond my high level of engagement and concern for the East Orange
community is my constant acquiring of new skills and knowledge. I am a learning teacher."
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