Stephen Maurelli is Brick's Teacher of the Year

Stephen Maurelli, a teacher at , has been named the Brick school district's teacher of the year.

Maurelli, a social studies teacher at the middle school, said he has been in the classroom for eight years and enjoys his daily work.

"The staff, the parents and especially the students, they make it a pleasure to go into work every day," Maurelli said last week. "Every day is a new beginning."

Maurelli was recognized by the Board of Education at a recent meeting, and received a proclamation from Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis at the June 12 township council meeting.

"When these kids are in the sixth, seventh, eighth [grades], those are very formative years," Acropolis said, congratulating Maurelli. "To rise to the level of district teacher of the year, to be recognized by your peers and the district in that capacity, is just fantastic."