“When I think of the teaching profession, the old adage ‘choose a job that you love and you will never have to work a day in your life,’ always comes to mind. Not only do I love to teach, but I have fun each day I am with my students. I truly enjoy watching them grow and learn, especially when they are struggling and then finally have the ‘aha’ moment,” said Ms. Lambe, who has 31 years of teaching experience, with 29 years in the Cranford school district, first serving as a middle school teacher at Hillside Avenue School. This year Ms. Lambe was named the Governor's Teacher of the Year for Brookside Place School (BPS) as part of the 2022-2023 Governor’s Teacher/Educational Services Professional Recognition Program.
She began her career as a Special Education teacher at the kindergarten to fifth grade BPS 15 years ago. “I revel in watching them learn about the world around them, cultivate new talents, make new friends, and develop the ability to problem solve. Witnessing student growth, successes and improvements is an exceptionally rewarding experience. It makes the day fun and keeps me smiling,” Ms. Lambe said. “I have had the unique privilege to usher my students out into the world, only to watch them come back to Cranford as productive adults to raise their own children. Having my former students return to Cranford to work, raise their families, and contribute to Cranford’s continued success as a caring community, is one of my greatest accomplishments. I am honored to be recognized as Brookside Place School Educator of the Year.”
Her love of teaching extends beyond the classroom to offering support to the district in extra curriculars. She has served as a soccer coach, Peer Leader Advisor, Student Council Advisor, After School Sports Advisor, and a mentor for junior year and senior year student teachers. In an administrative capacity over the course of her career, Ms. Lambe was the Cranford Education Association President and is currently the Representative for BPS, New Jersey Education Association consultant, member of the Cranford Municipal Alliance, and has been District Webmaster. She has led the popular summer STEM camp, Camp Invention, in Cranford, serving as director for 24 summers. Her commitments to offer a full-education value to the Cranford student body has been recognized in other capacities outside of this most recent achievement by her peers. She is a past participant and recipient of the Pairing and Sharing Grant, as well as being student-nominated and recognized as an outstanding educator by the Cranford Fund for Excellence in 1997.
Ms. Lambe holds an Undergraduate and Graduate degree from Kean University, a Substance Awareness Coordinator certification from Kean University, an Orton Gillingham certification from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Computer Programing certification from Chubb Institute and a Mental Health/First Aid Certification.
“I have been happily married to my high school sweetheart, Louie, for 28 years. When I’m not teaching, I am the proud mom to my daughter Gabrielle, a Cranford High School and Centenary University graduate, and my son Patrick, a sophomore at Suffolk University in Boston. In addition to my human children, I also have two fur babies, Max and Sasha,” Ms. Lambed added.