MFEE Announces Winners of the 2026 Judy Weston Awards!

2026 Weston Award Winners

Sixteen teachers and one counselor to be awarded $2,000 and honored at public ceremony

Sixteen Montclair Public Schools teachers and one school counselor have been named winners of the 2026 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching, selected from hundreds of nominations submitted by MPS parents, students, and staff.

The awards recognize master teachers and emerging educators who inspire learning, value students, and support individual needs and strengths. Established by Josh and Judy Weston in 1991, the awards are now administered by the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence. 

“The Judy Weston Awards celebrate the extraordinary educators who leave a lasting imprint on the lives of their students and on our entire school community. These honorees exemplify the passion, innovation, and unwavering commitment that define excellence in teaching," said Superintendent Ruth B. Turner. "We are proud to recognize this year’s recipients for the countless ways they inspire learning, uplift students, and help shape the future of Montclair Public Schools each and every day.”

This year’s Peer Inspiration Award, given to a teacher who has inspired their MPS colleagues, is Ashley Dorian Storfer, an English teacher at Montclair High School.

The winner of the Inspired Counseling Award, given to a counselor or school social worker, is Amillah P. Williamson, of Nishuane Elementary School.

Nominations for the peer and counseling honors come from MPS parents, students, and staff.  

The 15 other Weston Award winners, are based on parent and student nominations: 

• Luke Fess, Buzz Aldrin Middle School (Special Education Award) 

• Cary Bangs, Bradford Elementary School 

• Jessica Michaud, Bradford Elementary School 

• Michele Campbell Kinnas, Buzz Aldrin Middle School 

• Jessica Little, Charles H. Bullock Elementary School  

• Max A. Mellman, Edgemont Montessori Elementary School 

• Elizabeth Cario, Glenfield Middle School 

• Christian Hart, Hillside Elementary School 

• Shannon Becker-Fyfe, Montclair High School 

• Lei Haiting Liang, Montclair High School 

• Miosotty Martinez, Montclair High School 

• Jenna DePasquale, Nishuane Elementary School 

• Karyn Mosca, Northeast Elementary School 

• Dana Spagnuolo, Renaissance at Rand Middle School 

• Christen Berman-Schiralli, Watchung Elementary School. 

Pictured above are several of this year's 17 inspiring honorees.

The awards honor the memory of Judy Weston, a long-time Montclair resident and champion of public education.

“Judy was passionate about wanting to recognize and celebrate the many talented teachers in our district who exercise their craft so well on behalf of Montclair students,” said Josh Weston. 

Masiel Rodriquez-Vars, executive director of MFEE, said: “We are so grateful to Josh Weston and his family for their generosity and commitment to uplifting teachers.” She added: “It feels like magic when you watch a really good teacher do what they do. It’s like watching a talented dancer or talented musician. Inspired teaching is an art.”

All nominations were reviewed with the nominator’s and the nominees' names redacted. Winners were chosen by an independent committee of community leaders and education professionals, including: 

• Radwa Ali, Montclair Public Library

• Kate Cambor, Montclair SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) 

• Joseph David, Brother to Brother 

• Marilyn Davis, Montclair State University Network for Educational Renewal

• Dr. Twana Davisson, Educator, Montclair Public Schools teacher (retired)

• Susan Eckert, Educator, Montclair Public Schools teacher (retired) 

• Michelle Edwards, Sister to Sister of Montclair Mentoring Group, Inc.

• Ted Graham, Educator, Montclair PTA Council 

• Kathleen Hart, Montclair Public Schools teacher (retired) 

• Cheryl Hopper, Montclair Public Schools teacher (retired) 

• Kathy A. Hurling, Montclair Public Schools teacher (retired) 

• Rhena Jasey-Goodman, Montclair State University College for Education and Engaged Learning

• LaNa Jones-Jules, Montclair NAACP 

• Scott L. Kight, PhD, Montclair State University College of Science and Mathematics

• Sandra Cook McKnight, IMANI 

• Yasmine Perry, Succeed2gether

• Naomi Wallace, YMCA of Montclair 

• Mayida Zaal, PhD, Montclair State University College for Education and Engaged Learning

  
  

MFEE is grateful to the selection committee for their time, expertise and thoughtful consideration of every nomination.

The community is invited to attend the recognition ceremony on Tuesday, June 9, at the Montclair Public Library, which will be jointly hosted by MPS, MFEE and the Weston family. Many 2025 Weston Award recipients will play a role in this event. Please RSVP.