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2014-2015 Points of Pride
Birches Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Mary Byatt was named the 2014-15 New Jersey Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year by the New Jersey Council for the Social Studies. Byatt was cited for her strong ability to foster within her students the development of democratic beliefs and values and for her encouragement of age-appropriate civic participation. She also was honored for her strong content area expertise, her innovation with instructional materials, and her professional involvement in workshops, curriculum development and committees related to social studies education.
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Township High School Varsity Boys Soccer, under the direction of Head Coach
Shane Snyder, captured the 2014 NJSIAA Group IV state championship with a 1-0 victory over Scotch Plains-Fanwood. It is the program's first state title. The Minutemen also captured the South Jersey Group IV Championship with
a 1-0 victory over Toms River North.
It is the program's third sectional title all-time and the second in the past three seasons. The squad also was crowned South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association Tournament Champions for
the second year in a row and finished the season 25-1 and ranked No. 2
in the nation by the website topdrawersoccer.com. In addition,
TopDrawerSoccer.com named the Minutemen the No. 1 public school in the
country and No. 5 overall in a poll covering boys soccer during all
seasons (many states play soccer in the winter and spring, as well).
Washington Township High School head athletic trainer Tanya Dargusch was chosen by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) as one of their 2015 Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award (MDAT) winners. The MDAT award recognizes NATA members who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to leadership, volunteer service, advocacy and distinguished professional activities as an athletic trainer. MDAT exclusively recognizes NATA members who have been involved in service and leadership activities at the national and district level. The award acknowledges outstanding dedication and service to the athletic training profession. Candidates must have held the certified athletic trainer (ATC) credential, conferred by the Board of Certification, and have been an NATA member, both for at least 20 years.
Washington Township High School named as a recipient of a 2015 1st Team Safe Sports School Award from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association for providing safe environments for student-athletes and the best level of care, injury prevention and treatment.
- Washington Township High School Varsity Softball, under the direction of Coach Tracy Burkhart, claimed the school's fourth state Group IV championship, and its second in the past three years, with a 1-0 victory over Bridgewater-Raritan. The Minutemaids also won their third South Jersey sectional title in a row, the Olympic American Conference crown, the Ron Vinick Millville Invitational crown, and the Hammonton Invitational championship. WTHS finished with a 31-1 record, outscoring opponents, 232-60. Burkhart earned the 2015 South Jersey Softbal Coaches Association Coach of the Year award.
- Washington Township High School senior Jessica Hughes was selected by CBS MaxPreps as a first-team all-American softball player. Hughes is one of 30 players and 11 infielders on the first team. She hit .564 with 46 runs batted in during the 2015 season, passing the 200-hit mark for her career.