Juliana Krawircki

The 2020-2021 school year brought with it many challenges for the teachers and faculty of PHS. Now, their efforts are being recognised with awards.

Julianna Krawiecki, a PHS Drama Teacher known to her students as Ms. K, was one such recipient. She was nominated by the Speech and Theatre Association of New Jersey (STANJ) for the Outstanding Teacher of Speech and Theatre Governor’s Award after she submitted her portfolio in January of 2020, and received news several weeks later that she had won.

“You’re asked to submit a portfolio, which for me had information about the past ten years of my teaching career— it had [written] information, pictures, clips from shows, and recommendation letters from administrators and colleagues, from both school districts that I had worked in,” Krawiecki said.

Krawiecki, as PHS’s drama teacher, previously taught at the ManalapanEnglishtown school district as a vocal music and theatre teacher before moving to the Princeton Public Schools district, where she first taught as a drama teacher in the middle school, before finally settling at her current position at PHS. On top of directing over six different drama productions, one for each class she teaches, Krawiecki oversees both of PHS’s school plays, the fall play and the spring musical.

“We do the work we do not to be thanked and recognized,” Krawiecki said. “But it was really an honor to receive the recognition, and it meant more because it was from my peers. Oftentimes, being a drama teacher in a school can be very lonely, you’re the only person [teaching that class]. I really rely on [the support] of theatre teachers from other schools. They’re my network and my support group.”

Reflecting on her years at PHS, Krawieck attributes her award to the community around her.

“Last year was my 10th year as a public school teacher. [Receiving the award] brought a nice sense of accomplishment, to know that the work I do is valued,” Krawiecki said.

James Smirk

PHS Science Teacher James Smirk was awarded an “Outstanding Educator Award” by the University of Chicago. He was nominated for the award by his former athlete Charlotte Gilmore ‘20, a graduate of PHS who is currently attending the University of Chicago.

“Upon admission, [the university] asks incoming students if they want to nominate someone who ... had a great impact on their personal and academic success,” Smirk said.

UChicago describes the recipients of the award as “teachers who share an infectious love for learning and care for their students both inside and outside of the classroom.” The university’s goal with the award is to perpetuate the belief that outstanding educators go beyond everyday teaching and leave an impression in students that is carried over a lifetime of learning. It aims to highlight educators who go the extra mile for their students.

Smirk is grateful to have received the award and thinks back fondly on his time working with Gilmore as her coach for track.

“When I received the email I was ... really proud that someone that I worked with thought highly enough of the work that we did together and the things that we accomplished to think about me in doing that,” Smirk said. “I think that’s [special] for her to take the time to do that ... it was really meaningful for me.”

One method that Smirk believes has been important to his success in the classroom or on the field is his emphasis on “leadership philosophy” with his students and athletes.

“That really puts the responsibility on students to move forward,” says Smirk. “I think… that plays out in my classroom as well as my coaching.”

Looking forward, Smirk believes that this award is indicative of a bright future for PHS.

“I think there’s a kind of recognition there that we’re doing something that other districts maybe are doing differently, or we’re doing that on a different level,” Smirk said. “It’s nice to know that the culture we’re working to actively improve here ... is paying off.