Pascack Valley High School Director of Bands Craig Yaremko has been named the school’s Teacher of the Year.
The award, which is voted on at the beginning of the year by students and faculty, was announced on Dec. 1. Principal John Puccio, Interim Superintendent Dirk Phillips, and other administrators presented the honor to Yaremko during a band rehearsal.
“It was special to receive [the award] in front of our students,” Yaremko said. “I’m totally shocked by it. I’m very, very surprised by the whole thing.”
Yaremko was surprised to win the award as such a new teacher at PV — this year marks his third year at Valley, after previously working at Holdrum Middle School.
Throughout his few years at PVHS, Yaremko has already transformed the music program, specifically with the Panther Band.
“I definitely put a lot of work into the band program here at PV, making connections with students and trying to get the program to a much higher quality,” Yaremko said.
“I guess people have taken note,” the band director joked.
Yaremko’s involvement in the community has also contributed to his recognition. The Panther Band has increased its presence at local events; just last week, the group performed at River Vale’s Christmas tree lighting.
“Teaching in this community since 2009 [and] knowing what students were able to do back then compared to how I’m teaching students in 2025, to me, is proof of the musical level of the students that are in this community,” Yaremko said.
Yaremko was glad to remain in the community and teach students at a higher level upon moving to PVHS in 2023.
“When this opportunity came up [to teach at PV], I saw it as an opportunity to take a high school program that had some skill and mold it in a way that maybe other high school bands don’t do,” Yaremko said. “And that’s something that I’m constantly learning and tweaking and trying out.”
Yaremko said his teaching style may also resonate with students because he encourages collaboration.
“I’m not always authoritarian; it’s not always about what I want to do,” Yaremko said. “That’s maybe how my teaching style may resonate with students. I definitely survey students and ask them what they like, and I work with the students’ talent[s] and interests. It’s good to know that that’s resonating on some level.”
As a band director and music teacher, Yaremko always has his hands full, but that’s part of the reason why he remains so dedicated to his position.
“It’s nice to know the direction that I’ve taken things and the achievements that the students have had has had an impact on the community.”
Students have expressed their gratitude towards Yaremko as a teacher and band director.
“Yaremko has been a real inspiration both in the classroom and on a personal level,” band member and Pascack Valley junior Nived Ranjan said. “In all of my experiences with him since Holdrum, he has been a great teacher, friend, and overall person. He is very deserving.”
Beyond the program’s growth, Yaremko said he is grateful to teach a subject as meaningful as music.
“Music is something that unites humanity. It’s common in every culture around the world,” Yaremko said. “I’m really grateful that I teach music out of a school where I have students who are interested to learn what I’m really interested to teach.”
