Karen Sapudar
Position: Fifth and Sixth Grade Writing Teacher
School: Pace Charter School of Hamilton
School District: Pace Charter School of Hamilton
City, State: Trenton, NJ
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Karen Sapudar was nominated by her principal, Debbie Pontoriero.
Mrs. Sapudar is a dedicated, engaged LifeChanger who continues to research ways to instill a true love of writing in her students. While this is a difficult subject for middle school students, her approach hooks the students at the start of every lesson.
She establishes an environment where lines of communication are open. Students feel valued and comfortable enough to actively participate in the learning process.
"Mrs. Sapudar brings enthusiasm to the classroom through her passion for writing. It is truly contagious! She not only makes learning fun, but she encourages her students to use their prior knowledge and add a "sprinkle" of their own unique learning style," Pontoriero said.
"Students take ownership and pride in the work they create and enjoy coming to class every day", Pontoriero said. "Mrs. Sapudar is truly making a difference in the way her students learn. She makes it interesting, relevant and most importantly, fun."
I am Karen Sapudar's brother and I submit this comment in support of Karen's nomination for LifeChanger of the Year. Now before you dismiss a sibling's laudatory comments as necessarily hollow, consider this -- I am her older brother and my DNA is wired to torment my baby sister! So, it is counter-intuitive that I write with sincerity on behalf of Karen. But with sincerity I do. In this situation, my natural instincts must yield to compelling evidence of a committed, dedicated, creative and loving teacher. Although I have not witnessed her classroom performances, I know from conversations with her colleagues and friends that she provides the right mix of flexibility, opportunity, creativity, humor and structure. I can speak, however, to her out-of-classroom persona related to her work and her students. I know she constantly talks about her students, thinking of new activities and enriching and engaging ways for them to learn. She develops and maintains a true connection with them. At family gatherings, she often (actually always!) asserts that she has the most important job. I would never acknowledge this to her face, but she is right. We all can look back and identify that one teacher in elementary or middle school who sent us on a special path or opened our eyes to something new and exciting that has had a profound impact throughout our adult lives. I have no doubt that, in the future when asked the question about a pivotal influence in early life, many of Karen's former students will excitedly and without hesitation respond: "Mrs. Sapudar!" So, to bring this back to my opening, I enthusiastically support my sister, Karen Sapudar, as LifeChanger of the Year. Cheers!
Karen has been my colleague and friend for more than 13 years. I was a co-teacher with Karen in a first grade class, where I had the opportunity to see how truly dedicated Karen was to her students. She cared deeply about them, and always made learning fun. Karen was a creative teacher, and reviews for tests turned into Jeopardy games, and strategies to remember things turned into songs. Her students loved her because she instilled a love of learning in them, and they knew learning would be fun with Mrs. Sapudar.
I learned that Karen was nominated a few days ago and have spent those days trying to handwrite a stellar review before I submitted it here. I've come to realize that there is no way for me to fully express in the written word how my heart feels about her and the difference she made in my family. So, I'm going to wing it and hope it comes out somewhat coherent.
I first met her when my 2nd son, Lil' Vernon, was put her 1st grade class. This would have been roughly 13 years ago. He was, and still is even at 19, an exceptionally difficult child. He was born with a multitude of heart defects. He had his first open heart surgery at 5 days old. He'd had 2 others by the age of 3 as well as many other smaller procedures.
We had been warned that very young children, when put under heavy sedation for long periods of time, tended to have behavioral issues. That, mixed with our genetics, didn't bode well for him...or any of us that dealt with him daily.
McGuire AFB had 4 elementary schools then. I believe the youngest ones went to Discovery. It was horrible. It was a constant battle between us and them for even the simplest things...such as...him having a water bottle on his desk and unrestricted access to the bathroom because he was on so many heart medications and diuretics. Even our 504 plan didn't make a difference.You can only only imagine how they then dealt with any behavioral issues, age appropriate or not.
Karen was a breath of fresh air by the time we got to her. She loved and disciplined him from a Mother's heart. She acknowledged where he was unable to do better and required better of him where he could do better. She challenged him to do better...be better. She didn't let him get away with anything that was less than what he was capable of.
As a Mom I appreciated that so much, more than most people could ever know. We didn't raise him to use any of disAbilities as a crutch. She didn't allow it either. Right is right and wrong is wrong. We instilled that in him and she fostered that within him.
We worked hand in hand to make sure that Lil' Vernon reached HIS greatest potential. Not many educators are that invested in their students. She was, and I believe, still is.
My youngest son was in her class the next year. We had a family crisis that required me pulling all of my boys out of school for a bit. She helped picked up the pieces for all of us. Yet again, she loved with a Mother's heart.
Her Daddy died when my son was her student. He was so upset because he knew she was sad about it. He asked if we could buy her something to help her feel better. Of course! He chose a silver locket. When he gave it to her he told her "This is to put your Daddy's picture in so he he will be close to your heart.". Her love for him was evident, in that one moment, because he gave back all he knew to give. He gave back in the only way he could...from a Child's heart.
I told her a long time ago that many are trained to teach but few are born to be a Teacher.
She truly educates outside of anything that is required of her. She loves above and beyond what anyone, even a Mom like me, could hope for.
I have known Karen Sapudar for more than 15 years. My children entered North Hanover school district with obvious trepidation as we had just moved into the school district. My husband and I were thrilled to find out that our first grader was assigned to Mrs. Sapudar class. She not only taught my son but enriched his strengths and nurtured his weaknesses as her student. She taught him to think and be creative while helping to instill a sense of responsibility in my son and all of her students. My son flourished in her class and went onto higher level classes as he moved through elementary and middle school into high school.
My daughter also had a wonderful and enriching experience as well two years later in Mrs. Sapudar first grade class when she entered elementary school. She is a successful eighth grader now.
My children's success in school started with a great teacher as when they began their educational journey. She laid down the building blocks for my children and we are lucky for it.
We would like to take a moment to express our forever appreciation for the remarkable affect that Karen Sapudar has had on our lives, when we were blessed with her as the teacher of our son in both first and third grade! You see Karen was never just a teacher she was a remarkably inspirational wonder that, through her unique ability to see things that others could not, was able to crack the shell that encompassed the imagination of our son. Karen had a unique way of connecting with Evan that inspired him to participate in things such as writing and being social and if you know Evan that was not an easy task! Although it has been 5 years since Karen was Evan's official "classroom teacher" to this day he smiles just at the mention of her name! Karen we just want to say that if there were more people in this world that were as inspirational, caring, loving and kind as you the world would surely be a better place! "Thank You" and "We Love You"!!
Karen Sapudar is an exceptional teacher that strives in excelling her students to their highest potential. She has been my son's teacher for the past 2 years and has been an absolute blessing for us. She has instilled a love of learning and writing in him that has allowed him to develop into an amazing writer. Her patience and dedication to her students' shows in everything she does. We are so thankful for her. She is well deserving of this award.
I had the honor of being the principal for Mrs. Sapudar when she taught in North Hanover. Her students loved her because she loved them and taught them to love to learn. She was always going a step above what was expected of her. Her students were respected and so where their ideas. She always was trying to come up with new ideas to keep her students excited about what was going on in her classroom. In my opinion Mrs. Sapudar is a wonderful educator.
Mrs.Sapudar is the funniest teacher I ever met, and she is the best.
Mrs Sapudar always puts a smile on my face, One time at the end of the day I came to her room for the last period, and I felt a little down. After a while Mrs Sapudar started to make me smile, for the entire period, I was happy and I had a smile on my face.
Mrs.Sapudar is very finomonominal and smart.
Mrs. Sapudar is phenominominal.
Mrs. Sapudar is the funniest teacher because i have seen her do funny things with her fan club.
Mrs.Sapudar can be a life changer because she can teach you stuff that can inspire you and help change your life.
In life, Karen is a very positive, dedicated and loving person. Karen has a sparkle in her eyes about teaching. Karen is so kind, patient and giving to the students, that it makes them more confident in their work. Karen is a teacher every parent wishes for their children. Karen really does make a difference, hands down.
Karen Sapudar was my son's first grade teacher. My son, Matthew is now in his second year at Florida State University. Mrs. Sapudar is the one teacher he holds in his memory and will never forget. Matthew still talks about how Mrs. Sapudar was the best teacher he ever had. Thank you, Karen Sapudar for instilling a passion for learning in that little first grader you once had. Forever grateful!
She is a great teacher my daughter loves her and she didn’t like writing until she was in Mrs. Sapudar’s class. My daughters writing skills came from Mrs. Sapudar my daughter grade now and always has been (since she left Pace she’s now in middle school) is an A my daughter is now in eighth grade and she still has an A in writing. Thank you Mrs. Sapudar for being a life changer and this honor is well deserved.
Karen Sapudar is a truly dedicated & inspiring teacher. She has a passion for her job & it shows through in everything she does for her students. She motivates them & is a positive influence in their lives. Karen is the best of the best!!
I completely agree! My daughter loves writing and has become even more excited about writing as this is her second year with Mrs. Sapudar. I am thankful for Karen Sapudar's dedication and the love she puts into her work.
