Glen Landing Employee Wins NJEA Award

Glen Landing Middle School's cafeteria manager has been named the New Jersey Education Assocation (NJEA) Educational Support Professional of the Year.

Marge Vallieu has meant much more to Glen Landing than preparing meals and creating menus.

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Vallieu organized a program to recognize local first-responders.

“After 9/11, I thought a lot about how our local first responders often don’t get the recognition they deserve," she recently told NJEA. "We decided to have a heroes luncheon.”

Vallieu combined the event with the school’s annual Thanksgiving lunch, and got everyone in the school involved—her fellow ESP, teachers, students and administrators.

She's also been called upon by the Glen Landing faculty to help solve problems involving students.

"I gladly intervene. Sometimes the student just needs a smile or a hug, other times they need a sounding board," she told the teachers' union. "I treasure the opportunity to help a child feel cared about, confident, and safe.”

NJEA has now been recognizing educational support professionals for 11 years.

“I was just floored when I learned I was the state ESP of the Year,” Vallieu said. “But I welcome the opportunity to show that ESP members across New Jersey play important roles in their schools and communities.”