The Deptford board of education recognized the recent accomplishments of Deptford Middle School counselor Carolann Newman and middle-school student Kairon Baguia at its meeting on April 23.
Newman was named Gloucester County Counselor of the Year for 2024 by the New Jersey School Counselor Association (NJSCA) at an award ceremony on March 15 at the College of New Jersey. Winners are nominated by coworkers and selected by their own school counselor association.
Superintendent Kevin Kanauss presented a certificate to Newman from the board and spoke about her to meeting attendees, including her family.
“Carolann Newman has served the students of Deptford for 24 years,” he said. “Carolann has many accolades, as she was also selected for the 2022-’23 Educational Service Professional of the Year for Deptford Middle School.
Kanauss also recalled when he became acquainted with Newman.
“Carolann was one of the very first faces I ever met in Deptford when I came here to be a teacher,” he noted. “She has the friendliest face. One of the few friends I made in the district. She was the reason I stayed, because I made a good friend here, and she’s cool to work with.
“Best wishes for continued success for the rest of the school year.”
Baguia was honored for being one of the finalists in the Army Educational Outreach Program’s (AEOP) Veterans Appreciation Challenge. He was accompanied by his family and his seventh grade science teacher Tammy Bitting.
The challenge is a nationwide contest that tasks students with designing a 3D pin model to be worn by military veterans as a way to thank them for their service. Baguia was a finalist for grades four to eight.
“Submissions are accepted each year from thousands of students across the country,” Kanauss noted. “A panel of current service members and veterans selects 10 winning designs, which are mass produced and handed out to veterans who visit the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio.
“Tonight we’re proud to congratulate Kairon Baguia for being selected as a winner of the 2024 Veterans Appreciation Challenge,” he added.
Baguia has also received five 3D prints of the pin design – one of which was displayed at the board meeting – and a $100 gift card for a professional 3-D printer. He also got a certificate from the board and, according to the superintendent, will also receive the citizen of the month award from council at its meeting on Monday.
Board President Joe McKenna also took the time to congratulate Newman and Baguia.
“I’d like to take a minute to offer my personal congratulations to Carolann Newman and Kairon for representing the Deptford School District the way you do,” he said. “We really appreciate it, and I guess I can speak for the rest of the board of education.
“Thank you for what you did for Deptford.”
The preliminary budget submission from council will take place on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
