Page 22 - Summer 2018_Final 3

Volume 39, Issue 4 EBEA Newsletter Page 22

BARBARA ZIEGLER: CENTRAL SCHOOL MELISSA ZRINSKI: HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL
PSYCHOLOGIST EDUCATION TEACHER
How did this day arrive so quickly? How will we all Although Melissa Zrinski has only been a member of
carry on without our wonderful, esteemed colleague the East Brunswick High School special education
and friend? How would you spend your days after life department for the past two years, her impact on her
as a school psychologist on our elementary Child Study students will last for years to come. In her role as a
Team? Barbara K. Ziegler graduated from California special educator, Melissa wore many hats, teaching
University of Pennsylvania with a Masters in School Corrective Reading within the self-contained program,
Psychology. She then earned a School Psychologist English 10, and Study Skills.
certificate from Georgian Court University. Barbara was Melissa’s students and colleagues have described her
hired by East Brunswick Public Schools as a School as kind, generous, compassionate, and above all else,
Psychologist in September 2001. She sprang into action professional. Over the past two years Melissa has
immediately to assist those emotionally impacted by become known in the EB community for working
the events that took place on September 11, 2001. tirelessly to meet the needs of her students. She can
Since that time, Barbara has devoted herself to helping
often be seen working with students before school or
children and families on the elementary level at Bowne during lunch, consulting with her peers about
-Munro, Frost, Central and Irwin Elementary Schools.
instructional strategies, or collaborating with her co-
When called upon to assist her colleagues at the high teachers. Melissa is always willing to try a new
school, Barbara came through like a shining star. She is approach to working with her students to help them
the epitome of a team player! Barbara has worked reach their academic potential, she also cares deeply
under six directors of Special Education, countless about the social-emotional functioning of her students,
supervisors, as well as numerous principals. She has
as she advocates for their needs outside of the
weathered many challenging cases as well as changes classroom as well.
in the department and in the district at large. As a
teammate, there is none finer! Those who have had Good luck to Melissa as she enters the next chapter of
the pleasure of working with Barbara can certainly her life in Florida with her husband and extended
attest to this! family…she will truly be missed in East Brunswick!

We will miss Barbara’s warm smile, good humor,
soothing psychologist voice, and open door policy. On
any given day, there have always been teachers in her
office, prior to the start of the school day, seeking
advice on how to work most effectively with a student
or family, or just to spend a few moments with Barbara
to get the day off to a positive start. Well, now Barbara
is off to start a new chapter in her life! Her husband Joe
is a few paces ahead of her, but rest assured, she is
ready to join him. In her retirement, Barbara is looking
forward to spending time with her husband in their
new home in Belmar, New Jersey, as well as spending to the 2017-2018
more time with her children, Jennifer (and John) and Administrative Staff
Timothy (and Jenna), and grandchildren, Benjamin and
Brianna. Rumor also has it that Barbara and Joe plan to Della Green, Hammarskjold Asst. Principal
travel to parts unknown. Those of us that you are
leaving behind wish you great health and every Patricia LaDuca, Supervisor of ILA
happiness! You will still be invited to attend the Central Evelyn Ogden, Director of Special Projects
Book Club, so don’t be a stranger! Barbara, you
deserve all the best! Please keep in touch and send us
pictures of your travels!