On Aug. 11, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) announced the 21 educators named 2026-2027 County Teachers of the Year. The NJSBA has be a longtime supporter of the state’s Educator of the Year program and extends heartfelt congratulations to the honorees and thanks them for the passion and commitment to the transformative power of education that embody New Jersey’s world-class educator workforce. The NJSBA collaborates with NJDOE to produce the annual CTOY video screened at the awards banquet.  The videos are also then screened in district by NJSBA County Coordinators at County Boards of Education meetings as well. 

“President Jacobs was honored to be part of the selection process for the County Teachers of the Year, and I was honored to join these outstanding educators in celebrating their accomplishments,” said Dr. Timothy Purnell, NJSBA executive director. “They represent the very best of what is happening in New Jersey’s public schools… educators who bring passion, dedication, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to their students and communities. Their stories are a powerful reminder of the extraordinary work taking place in our public schools every day, and we are proud to celebrate them and the difference they make.”

Individual schools select Teachers of the Year, who are eligible to apply for County Teacher of the Year through the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program. The County Teachers of the Year will network with colleagues throughout the state and serve as ambassadors for New Jersey’s public schools during the school year. A panel of educators will then select the New Jersey Teacher of the Year from among the 21 County Teachers of the Year. The New Jersey State Teacher of the Year will go on to represent New Jersey in competing for the title of National Teacher of the Year.

For additional information, please see the NJDOE’s Aug. 11 press release and Governor’s Educator of the Year webpage.

Congratulations again to New Jersey’s 2026-2027 County Teachers of the Year!

CountyTeacherPositionSchoolSchool District
  Atlantic  Kimberley BrilesSocial Studies TeacherCedar Creek High SchoolGreater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
  Bergen  Thomas Villa  Science TeacherNorthern Valley Regional High School at Old TappanNorthern Valley Regional High School District
BurlingtonJoseph LatigonaCriminal Justice TeacherMedford CampusBurlington County Institute of Technology
CamdenAna Sánchez HernándezSpanish TeacherHaddonfield Middle SchoolHaddonfield School District
Cape MayCarly CrisantiArt TeacherLower Cape May Regional High SchoolLower Cape May Regional School District
CumberlandJeffrey Martine *Gifted & Talented TeacherAnthony Rossi Elementary SchoolVineland School District
  Essex  Carla FerreiraEnglish Language Arts TeacherNewark School of Architecture & Interior Design  Newark School District
GloucesterPamela DeRoseArt TeacherDelsea Regional High SchoolDelsea Regional School District
  Hudson  Shelly WithamEarth and Environmental Science TeacherHigh Tech High SchoolHudson County Schools of Technology
HunterdonGretchen BiedermannSpecial Education TeacherJ.P. Case Middle SchoolFlemington-Raritan School District
MercerJennifer VogelSTEM TeacherMelvin H. Kreps Middle SchoolEast Windsor Regional School District
MiddlesexJessica Miele3rd Grade TeacherJames Monroe Elementary SchoolEdison Township School District
  Monmouth  Megan WattsMathematics TeacherManalapan- Englishtown Middle SchoolManalapan-Englishtown Regional School District
MorrisHannah OlmoDance TeacherDover High SchoolDover School District
OceanAngela GermanoEnglish Language Arts TeacherToms River Intermediate EastToms River Regional School District
PassaicGemmerton ReyesTV Video Production TeacherManchester Regional High SchoolManchester Regional High School District
  SalemMichelle SchnetzlerSpecial Education TeacherPaul W. Carleton Elementary SchoolPenns Grove – Carneys Point Regional School District
SomersetNeil ThompsonSocial Studies TeacherNorth Plainfield High SchoolNorth Plainfield School District
SussexJames McKowenComputer Science TeacherHopatcong High SchoolHopatcong Borough School District
UnionAlice DebowskiSpecial Education TeacherJ. Christian Bollwage Finance AcademyElizabeth School District
WarrenMelissa Arrambide2nd Grade TeacherMountain Villa SchoolAllamuchy Township School District

* This table lists this teacher’s school at the time of nomination. He currently teaches at Vineland High School.