Weston Awards: Meet Renaissance Math Teacher Mark Stulbaum

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This is the latest in our series spotlighting the winners of the 2025 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching. Follow along each week to learn more about the impact these educators are making in the Montclair Public Schools.

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Anyone who knows Renaissance teacher Mark Stulbaum knows he cares a lot about math, but he cares even more deeply about the students he teaches. He cares about them holistically and makes them feel valued – as budding mathematicians, and equally important, as people. 

A few examples: 

One parent said: “My daughter is a competitive track runner – on the day of her big race, Mr. Stulbaum organized a phone call with her homeroom. The class called and gave her the encouragement she needed to win her race.” 

Another parent said: "[Mr. Stulbaum] ensures that all of his students can participate in end-of-year activities for 8th graders. Every Friday, he organizes a morning fundraiser, which helps support students that require some financial assistance.” 

And, “Each holiday season, he leads a toy drive for underserved kids.” 

And, “On snowy days, he offers 'extra credit' to kids who can provide photographic evidence that they have volunteered to help shovel out a neighbor.”  

Another parent told the awards committee that Mr. Stulbaum "gets" their child’s adolescent humor in a way that few adults do. "While [my child] can feel misunderstood or disliked by adults, he feels respected by Mr. Stulbaum,” the nomination said. 

Mr. Stulbaum’s classroom is open daily for extra help at lunchtime. But even more, this teacher gives up his Saturday mornings to meet students at the library for study sessions before midterms and finals.

“Mr. Stulbaum regularly brings real-world topics and current events into the classroom," one nominator shared. "They talk about financial matters, current events, and from what I can tell, they also spend a fair bit of time talking about what's new in the students' lives. Some of these conversations have been as valuable to [my child] as the math instruction.”

Mr. Stulbaum, for a kind, yet firm approach to teaching math, for coupling high expectations with an approachable attitude, and for going above and beyond for your students, the Montclair community is proud to call you an inspired teacher. Congratulations.