Teacher is recognized in surprise presentation

BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

SPOTSWOOD — High School teacher Frank Yusko had another exciting day Sept. 6, but it wasn’t because he was working on another service project or gearing up for the first day of school.

In a surprise presentation before school staff and officials, Yusko received a framed resolution from the New Jersey State Legislature honoring him for the numerous community service efforts he has helped to spearhead and the many causes he has supported. Making his efforts even more noteworthy is the fact that Yusko himself has multiple sclerosis.

Yusko not only serves as adviser to the school’s History and Octagon clubs, but has also chaired the Spotswood Memorial Day Parade and was instrumental in bringing a permanent Sept. 11 memorial to the borough.

State Sen. Barbara Buono (D-18) presented Yusko with the resolution Sept. 6 during a faculty and staff orientation day in Spotswood. Yusko was unaware that he was going to be recognized.

“I was very much surprised,” he said of the honor, which was bestowed upon him in front of all the faculty and staff members of Spotswood’s schools.

He was under the impression it would be just another orientation, but then saw Buono enter the high school cafetorium where the event was taking place. She began to explain why she was there and mentioned the successful DVD/CD drive that Yusko organized recently to bring entertainment to U.S. troops during their downtime in Iraq.

“That’s when I knew it was for me and got nervous,” Yusko said.

He took the stage amid applause from colleagues and some family members who had secretly been invited.

Yusko thanked Buono for the honor and pointed out that nothing would have been accomplished without the cooperation of his students.

“They certainly share in this,” he later told the Sentinel.

Spotswood Superintendent of Schools Anthony Vaz said the Octagon Club has been very successful in its endeavors and Buono realized that Yusko was a major reason why.

“She was impressed by his achievements, then found out about his MS and how he still goes out with the kids and motivates them to care about others,” Vaz said.

“He’s a master teacher, and he’s highly regarded for his teaching ability and concern for kids,” Vaz said. “He really keeps a great interest in the Spotswood community and schools.”

Yusko said he will find a good place for the resolution, which is quite large.

“It was emotional and very, very nice,” he said of the honor.