- Ms. Gildenberg wanted to become a writer. Her parents wanted her to become a doctor. She went to Hunter College and earned a degree in Food Sciences. However, she ended up marrying, raising a child, and substitute teaching in South Brunswick. She went on to gain a teaching certificate and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Trenton State College
- Taught at the Greenbrook School for fourteen years. She then taught at the Monmouth Junction School for ten years. She finished her teaching career at the Indian Fields School, where she taught for seven years. Thus, she retired from teaching after putting in 31 years at the elementary level
- Ms. Gildenberg saw many changes–some for the better during her stellar teaching career. A memorable one was challenging the old dictum that women should not be allowed to wear pants to school. She was inspired by her daughter’s participation in a protest involving wearing shorts and t-shirts during the last days of the school year. Gilda and some other female teachers joined the protest and wore pant suits to work
- After retirement, she set her sights on traveling to such places as Alaska, Nova Scotia, and Australia
- Ms. Gildenberg could not stay away from education even in retirement. She supervised student teachers at Rutgers University and enjoyed it immensely
“School is a place where kids get experiences that their parents may not expose them to.”
Gilda Gildenberg