Page 6 - Summer 2018_Final 3

Volume 39, Issue 4 EBEA Newsletter Page 6

GWEN BOTWINICK: FROST SPECIAL EDUCATION ELIZABETH CALIMANO: CHURCHILL SECRETARY
TEACHER Beth Calimano has been an integral part of Churchill
Gwen Botwinick resumed her career in teaching by Junior High and the East Brunswick Public Schools for
working as a homebound instructor for MCESC and 25 years. She began her career as a hall aid and
then consulted with student teachers from Rutgers completed her service as an administrative secretary.
Graduate School for Education for several years. After Her knowledge and wisdom assisted many teachers,
some coaxing from a friend on the EBHS soccer field, in administrators and students. She was always
the year 2000, she applied for a job in East Brunswick. approachable and willing to “lend a hand” in whatever
Since then she has been a proud educator in the East was asked of her. Her duties varied throughout the
Brunswick School District for the past 18 years. years, including assisting students and parents,
ordering supplies, working on the budget and assisting
Gwen has many favorite memories from her years
in standardized testing. Although she was exemplary in
working with the wonderful professionals in the EB
Public Schools. During her 15 years at Frost and several her commitment to her responsibilities, she was known
best for her sense of humor. Her ability to make people
more from Bowne Munro, she provided IC support to
classified students. She recalls fondly the countless ice laugh was infectious. Beth and her husband plan on
cream socials, talent shows, and class fieldtrips. Two of spending their retirement on family vacations and
caring for their beautiful grandchildren. She is missed
her most touching moments were in the form of
personal notes at the end of the school year: One, and irreplaceable.
written personally by a fifth-grader, who referred to
her as his "support beam." A second was from a dad
who thanked her for helping his son "turn the corner."
Her last source of great satisfaction was serving as an
EBEA building rep. communicating updates to her
peers, new and veteran. As a member of the EBEA,
Gwen enjoyed the opportunity to reach out and serve
the community. According to Gwen, “just seeing the
smiles on the faces of kids visiting our Bear Den or
attending Community Day warms my heart!”
According to Gwen’s co-workers, she is always there to
help and support every student equally. She is
generous, compassionate, and flexible and her
students appreciate all that she does. She comes to
work each day with a smile on her face and a positive
attitude. She never complains and truly enjoys the
work of teaching. She is a pleasure to work with and
has supported Frost as our EBEA representative for
many years. She loves visiting family in New York
where she grew up as well as spending time at her
beach house in LBI. She enjoys being around her family
and is looking forward to travelling and babysitting her
first grandson on the way!