Louis, Goncalves honored at Linden HS

LINDEN, NJ — Annabell Louis was recently selected as Linden High School’s 2015-2016 Educational Services Professional of the Year. Louis is a graduate of Rutgers and Kean universities, and has completed coursework at New York University, and is currently pursuing post-master’s studies in Educational Administration through the NJEXCEL program.

Louis began her work in the district in 2008, as a social worker at Linden School No. 2. Since 2011, she has served in the same capacity at the LHS, where she conducts weekly individual and group therapeutic counseling sessions for special education and general education students; serves as a liaison between families and the school to positively promote collaborative processes in educational planning for students; provides consultation services to school personnel and parents regarding strategies for helping students cope with personal and social concerns, and serves as chairperson of the Peer Mediation Program and the club advisor for the Gay-Straight Alliance. Louis is also active in other LHS programs and events, such as Red Ribbon Week, Violence Prevention Week, Student of the Month, Pep Rally, Homecoming, Back to School Night, and the Special Coordinators of Professional Enrichment Team.

Monica Goncalves was recently selected as Linden High School’s 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year. A graduate of the College of Saint Elizabeth and Kean University, Goncalves has completed coursework in educational administration and supervision and currently chairs the department LHS Social Studies Department.

Goncalves began her work at LHS in 2002, where she teaches history. She has served for several years as a cooperating teacher to Kean University student teachers, contributing to the development of future teachers. She has also worked as the coordinator of a Bias & Prejudice Reduction Program at LHS, which resulted in her winning the Unity Achievement Award, presented by the Union County Human Relations Commission in 2013. Goncalves is also active at LHS as the advisor for the National Honor Society, Law Day coordinator, mock election coordinator, Graduation Committee member, Middle States Committee member, and member of the Special Coordinators of Professional Enrichment Team.