Longtime aide honored for her work

Vernon — While Vernon Township School District’s teachers are often honored for their service to their students, there is another group that you don’t hear as much about — the aides. But at least one of their number got her moment in the spotlight on Thursday, as Dhalma Lopez, an aide at Lounsberry Hollow Middle School, was honored as the Educational Support Person of the Year by Vernon Township. “I am so blessed,” she said. “I smile when I come into work in the morning and I’m smiling when I come home.” Lopez, who has been with the district for 10 years, started as an aide at Cedar Mountain Primary School and worked in Rolling Hills Primary School before ending up at Lounsberry Hollow. She currently assists special needs children, but started out as an aide to a student who didn’t speak English. “Dhalma Lopez typifies all that is good in education,” said Superintendent Dr. John Alfieri. “She combines a great sense of person and personality that is contagious in staff and students alike.” Earlier that week, Lopez found out that she was also being honored by Sussex County with the same award. “It’s been quite a week,” she said. Lopez is an 18-year resident of the township and has three children, one of whom is still in the district, attending Vernon Township High School.