Social worker Mrs. Tozduman wins Governor’s Educator of the Year Award for her contributions as a service professional

June 3, 2021

By Emilia Calabrese
Staff Writer

Social worker Mrs. Tozduman is LHS’s 2021 recipient of the Governor’s Educator of the Year Award for a service professional. This award recognizes educators who are dedicated, inspire all students to learn, show leadership and innovation in and outside the classroom, are respected by their peers and play an active role in the community including the school. 

Tozduman, who has been working at LHS for 19 years, contributes to the child study team as a case manager for students with disabilities. She develops Individualized Education Plans for students and completes psychosocial assessments through interviews with parents, students and teachers. 

Tozduman grew up in Lyndhurst and graduated from LHS in 1994. She went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in social work from Seton Hall University in South Orange and earned a master’s degree in social work from New York University in New York City.

“I knew even as a child I wanted to have a job where I could work with people and wake up in the morning, go to work and make a difference in somebody’s life,” Tozduman said. 

Tozduman said she was overwhelmed when she found out she won the award, particularly because it came as a result of colleagues’ nominations.

“To think that my colleagues and the people I work with would even consider me for this type of award made me feel very humbled,” Tozduman said. 

She said she strives to be seen as someone who is trustworthy and reliable, going out of her way to help everybody to the best of her ability. 

“It is a matter of growing and experience that I have learned to always be available and let people know that I am available to support them and advocate for them,” Tozduman said. 

Tozduman said her favorite part about her job is being able to communicate and meet with students and their families. Although Covid-19 has led to limited face-to-face contact, she said she has adjusted to using Zoom and having conversations over the phone. 

“Mrs. Tozduman has helped me countless times throughout the years. Through adjustments to my schedule to advice on which classes to take, she has always offered her best advice.”

“When I meet with students, I feel like I have that opportunity to let them see how much power and ability they have and be able to give them the tools to do their best and meet success,” Tozduman said. “I want them to know that they are all capable, and they have all been given gifts and that they have the power to succeed at anything they want.”

Special education teacher Mr. Fagan, who has known Tozduman for 12 years, said he works well with her to ensure that their students are receiving all of their accommodations as well as learning proper social, emotional and educational skills. 

“She is very kind and genuine and always has her students’ best interest [in mind]. She is great because she is always trying to put her students first and get whatever they need to be successful,” Fagan said. 

He described Tozduman as the quintessential school social worker, explaining that she goes out of her way to help her students and colleagues. 

“In our field of work, sometimes you become more of a nurturer than you do an educator,” Fagan said.

Spanish teacher Mrs. Silvelo, who has known Tozduman for seven years, said Tozduman deserved the award because she has always sought a way to help her students.

“She is kind and always willing to help. She is very understanding and tries to put herself in the students’ position so that she can better understand their point of view,” Silvelo said. “[Tozduman] understands her impact is very important for her students.”

As someone who has grown up with Tozduman’s daughters and had the opportunity to get to know Tozduman on a personal level, Junior Maria Gaccione said she can confidently say Tozduman is an amazing woman. 

“Mrs. Tozduman is always there if anyone needs her and has happily helped me with anything I have asked of her,” Gaccione said. 

Gaccione said Tozduman’s care for her work makes her great at what she does. 

“You can tell through all that she does that she works out of passion and not just out of obligation,” Gaccione said. 

Junior Claudia Lapinski said she believes Tozduman is deserving of the Governor’s Educator of the Year Award because of her kindness and dedication.

“Mrs. Tozduman has helped me countless times throughout the years. Through adjustments to my schedule to advice on which classes to take, she has always offered her best advice,” Lapinski said. “What makes Mrs. Tozduman great at what she does is her genuine care for the students that she helps and always makes them her first priority.”

Tozduman said her biggest supporters throughout her journey have been her daughters Ella and Julia, husband and parents. 

“They are helpers and givers by nature, and they have always taught me to be grateful for the things I have but to always give back to people,” Tozduman said.

She said she hopes to continue working at LHS for years to come and assist in the transition to life in the aftermath of Covid-19. Tozduman said she wants to be part of the process of getting students and families to re-enter school safely and feel comfortable doing so. She said she looks forward to more normal routines post-pandemic.