River Vale,
www.rivervaleschools.com
CONTACT: Margie Druss Fodor
(201) 358-9260
mfodor@rivervaleschools.com
______________________________________________________________________________________
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Leanore “Leni” Rosenzweig, a
POPULAR RIVER VALE TEACHER RETIRES
FROM CLASSROOM
AFTER 27 YEARS
RIVER VALE, NJ,
For
nearly three decades, she’s been fulfilling her dream -- all the while helping
students feel positive about themselves and
encouraging them to achieve their goals. The last 27 years were spent in River
Vale at Holdrum Middle School, where she plans to
retire as a language arts teacher as of July 1.
Meeting
Leni Rosenzweig is like sitting down with a dose of
positive energy. It’s hard not to leave her without wanting to achieve
something meaningful. She has been asked to work as a consultant to continue
many of the special projects she has initiated, although her classroom teaching
will end this school year.
While
Mrs. Rosenzweig is looking forward to having more time to read, travel into
Manhattan and elsewhere and to spend time with her “most wonderful partner,”
her husband Bill, she couldn’t see herself leaving the school altogether.
“I
tell my students that you have to have a passion,” she said one recent
afternoon at Holdrum, on
One
eighth grader, a regional Spelling Bee champion, said Mrs. Rosenzweig knows so
many things, yet she’s so down to earth. He and others recalled how she’d often
walk down the halls throwing words at him to practice his spelling.
Mrs.
Rosenzweig graduated with a bachelor of science in education from City College
of New York, worked in the Bronx for two years as a 3rd grade teacher, then
left her job to stay home and raise her four sons. She has lived in River Vale
nearly 40 years. All of her boys, now grown, graduated from
She
came to the district part-time in October 1976 with the title of instructional
support teacher, where she helped students with learning difficulties. Two
years later, she became a full-time classroom teacher. When one of the 6th
grade teachers left for maternity leave, she started teaching 6th grade. After
that, she taught remedial reading to 7th and 8th graders for more than 10
years. While a remedial teacher, she introduced an overnight, outdoor camping
program, where students learned about the nature, the environment, social
skills and outdoor living. She also remembered working with the remedial
students to plan a Thanksgiving dinner one year. Even 13 years later, she said she
could practically smell the aroma that drifted through the halls that day.
“We
planned the whole menu. It had all the fixings. The 7th graders were the
waiters. They loved it,” she said with a smile. “I still have the potato
peeler.”
She
also taught her remedial students how to save money by starting their own
button-making business and opening their own bank account in town. Students
were able to make out checks, as well as plan sales and profit-making
activities. She wanted the students to feel proud of themselves.
Eight years ago, she started RAP, or a Reading Appreciation Program, to
encourage students to enjoy reading. RAP became part of the 7th grade
curriculum.
Mrs.
Rosenzweig started the Peer Helpers program in 1996. The program, which she
still oversees, lets middle school students interact with other students
through a variety of activities including tutoring in all subject areas and
social events.
“These
were the frostings, the extra special things to make school more exciting,”
Mrs. Rosenzweig said.
Board
of Education member Lorraine Waldes remembered when
her daughter, now a
“These
are the things far and above what she did in the classroom,” Mrs. Waldes said. “She still had the time to be a great
classroom teacher. She made things fun.”
Mrs.
Rosenzweig currently teaches electives, such as career education, and she also
helps plan special events and activities, including the school play. She is an
honorary vice president on the PTA, where parents such as Mrs. Waldes said they enjoy listening to Mrs. Rosenzweig rave
about the happenings at Holdrum.
Mrs.
Rosenzweig said she couldn’t do all her creative activities without the support
of the district.
“The
parents and community members have been a huge asset to my career at Holdrum,” she said. “Most of them just need to be asked,
some just step up and volunteer, but most of them always say yes, and come
through with the proverbial flying colors! It’s been wonderful.”
Her
colleagues feel the same way about her. Holdrum
Guidance Counselor Maureen Monaghan said: “I can’t think of enough words to
describe her.”
“She
taught all eight of my children with such love,” Mrs. Monaghan said. “ It has been a joy working with her.”
Holdrum Principal Dr. Phyllis Prestia called Mrs.
Rosenzweig “an extraordinary teacher. Her creative ideas and special projects
have truly enhanced the educational program at Holdrum.”
-END-
PHOTO CREDIT: ROBERT FENCIK,