Reading Specialist Mrs. Stacey Feiss has been named Educational Specialist of the Year for the 2023-2024 school year. Mrs. Feiss went to Temple University where she received her undergraduate degrees in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She also received her graduate degrees in Reading Education from Fordham University. In her five years of teaching at Morris Hills High School, she has loved the flexibility and the change in her schedule. She enjoys the waves of different types of work, from introducing the school’s reading program to students to working with teachers to help students in the classroom. Mrs. Feiss enjoys all the different aspects her work entails. In particular, Mrs. Feiss loves to “work one-on-one or with small groups of students on specific reading comprehension skills.”

In terms of interests and passions, Mrs. Feiss enjoys curling up with a blanket and watching How to Get Away with Murder. Her favorite books include The Four Winds and The Book of Lost Names. She would also love to travel to Greece and try new food, visit ancient sites, and immerse herself into the Greek culture and lifestyle.

As an integral part of the English Department, Mrs. Feiss has left an impact on numerous students and faculty all around her. Sophomore Waliyya Tucker enjoys having Mrs. Feiss as an English specialist in her English class with Ms. Petrosino. She speaks fondly of Mrs. Feiss, noting that Mrs. Feiss “helped her understand the process of reading a story and finding the main idea.” Waliyya knows that Mrs. Feiss is “the sweetest and most caring person” and that she will always go “the extra mile to help her students…to do [their] best.”

Along with students, Mrs. Feiss has also left an impact on the staff she works with on a daily basis. Below are a few short notes from her friends at the English department:

Mrs. Sanchez, teacher of English, doesn’t know where to begin when it comes to saying great things about Mrs. Feiss. She knows that Mrs. Feiss is one of the kindest and most generous people she knows. Mrs. Sanchez speaks, “[Mrs. Feiss] is incredibly creative, and goes above and beyond to prepare lessons that keep students engaged and allow them to have fun while learning.” Mrs. Sanchez loves how Mrs. Feiss can manage all of her tasks with grace and dignity, despite her busy schedule. She considers herself lucky to have Mrs. Feiss not only as a colleague, but also as a friend.

Mr. Fahrer, teacher of English, loves how incredibly dedicated and caring Mrs. Feiss is. He always looks forward to a lesson from Mrs. Feiss because they are “always creative, focused, and really get the students thinking and moving.” And when it comes to the Reading Plus program, she “listens to students’ qualms and does her best to address them.” Mr. Fahrer believes that Mrs. Feiss is a treasure to this school and inspires him to be better.
Ms. Petrosino, teacher of English, began working with Mrs. Feiss in 2020 and immediately knew that Mrs. Feiss cares about her students and their overall success. She knows that Mrs. Feiss is always willing to help her colleagues and her students whenever they need it, and will always go the extra mile to ensure everyone succeeds. Ms. Petrosino believes that “the students and staff at Morris Hills are extremely lucky to have Mrs. Feiss,” and she is thankful to call Mrs. Feiss her “colleague, friend, and carpool buddy.”

Mr. Diaz, teacher of English, believes that Mrs. Feiss “has become a staple to not only the English department, but for any student in the school who struggles as a result of reading.” He knows that she is always there to provide assistance and always makes time for anyone who needs her. She is “extremely talented in her field and…the district is fortunate to have her.” Mr. Diaz believes he has personally grown as an English teacher as a result of working with her. He cannot thank her enough for what she does.

Mrs. Toriello, District Director of Instructional Services for English, believes that the Morris Hills’ reading program’s success is solely thanks to Mrs. Feiss’s dedicated daily efforts. Mrs. Feiss, according to Mrs. Toriello, is a trusted resource for members and her “warm, nurturing, and collaborative personality has helped teachers and students integrate effective literacy strategies into their studies and the curriculum, schoolwide.” Mrs. Toriello finds Mrs. Fiess to be an “outstanding addition to the school” and she is grateful for her dedication and creative mind every day as Mrs. Feiss is “always thinking of the next best thing to bring to the students and staff at Morris Hills.”

Clearly, the staff and students of Morris Hills love Mrs. Feiss’s dedication, creativity, and amiable nature. Once again, congratulations Mrs. Feiss and thank you for continuously leaving such a positive impact on the school community for the last five years!