Assistant Superintendent Carolyn Granato of Newark Public Schools was recently celebrated as Essex County’s 2024 Italian American Educator of the Year. The recognition came during a special ceremony hosted by Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, where N.J. Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz presented the award to Granato.

“You have always been a friend to me and my family,” Ruiz said to Granato. “If there was ever a parent or family or a student in need, you picked up the phone and you resolved the issue. Thank you for making New Jersey better. Thank you for making this world better.”