LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Kathie Immerman was nominated by her principal, Joanne Hozeny.

Mrs. Immerman is the quintessential teacher leader. She has worked for over 20 years in the Bernards Township School District as a physical education teacher.  Her roles and responsibilities do not stop there.  Mrs. Immerman is the one person who can be counted on to attend every evening school activity, lead many school committees, and offer sound feedback to administrators.

Mrs. Immerman is a reflective practitioner.  She reflects on each and every lesson that is taught, analyzes it, and makes decisions for planning and implementation of future lessons. She uses many indicators for effectiveness such as class assessments, check-ins, and review of student performance.  Mrs. Immerman tries to have conversations with students and colleagues, observes student practice, and works to analyze her instruction for student learning and improve her teaching. In addition, she will also check in with other adults and mentor other teachers in the department.  She models many effective instructional strategies for her colleagues, who absorb this information like a sponge.  Mrs. Immerman continually adjusts her teaching to meet all students’ needs.

Each year, Mrs. Immerman continues to diligently work to promote all aspects of the learning community when it comes to Mount Prospect. She tries to constantly improve, lend support, recognize, and contribute to many different aspects of the school, as well as the extension outside the walls of the building. She serves on many committees and tries to give input that assists in continued learning for all involved. As mentioned, she assumes and takes leadership roles where possible and allows others to have a voice in planning and implementation (School Safety Team, HIB Committee, Professional Development/SCiP Committee and SEL Core Team, to name a few). She is also a grant reviewer and trainer for Project Fit America. Through conferencing and teaching in schools throughout NJ and US (during vacations or before school starts) she is able to share and receive teaching ideas and strategies that she can use in her own classroom. She serves as the chair on the Panther Pride/ Character Ed Committee and Co- Chair on the SEL Core Team as part of the Climate and Culture Initiative, which initiates different activities throughout the year. Mrs. Immerman is committed to building a true sense of community.

This year, she had a major responsibility in developing the plan for implementation of the school's Climate and Culture Initiative. This involved disseminating  research information to staff, parents and teachers, for surveys, data review, planning, implementation the plan, and sustaining the plan in the future. She played a critical role in year one of the plan. Mrs. Immerman will continue to work with administrators to continue building the three-five year plan.

Mrs. Immerman is a member of the following professional organizations:

• NJASECD(New Jersey Association for Social, Emotional, Character Development)

• Academy of Social and Emotional Learning in Schools

• SHAPE America

• ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development)

• School Support Network of Morris County

• NEA (National Education Association)

•  NJEA (New Jersey Education Association)

"As anyone can see, Mrs. Immerman is a key leader in the Mount Prospect School Community.  She continues to help us excel towards excellence," Hozeny said.

Kathie Immerman in The News:
Basking Ridge Teacher Nominated fro LifeChanger Award