The New Jersey Department of Education recognized 21 teachers as the 2018-2019 County Teachers of the Year in an awards ceremony at Jackson Memorial High School, Jackson.
“I am honored to recognize the 2018-2019 County Teachers of the Year,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “These 21 educators exemplify the outstanding level of talent and commitment that exists in New Jersey’s public schools. Their hard work and dedication is a critical part of making our state’s public education system one of the best in the country and creating a life-long love of learning for New Jersey’s students.”
“Our greatest resources in public education are our educators,” said Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet. “Here in New Jersey, we are blessed to have many brilliant educators, and these 21 who are being recognized as County Teachers of the Year are emblematic of the quality of instruction that we see throughout the Garden State.”
Individual schools are encouraged to identify educators for the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of their outstanding teachers. Teachers recognized as part of this program become eligible to compete for County Teachers of the Year. Panels representing a cross-section of administrators, teachers, parents and members of county education associations select each County Teacher of the Year.
The County Teachers of the Year will network with educators throughout the state and serve as ambassadors for New Jersey’s public schools. Additional information can be found on the Governor’s Educator of the Year webpage.
A panel of educators then will select the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year based on written applications, video submissions and interviews with the County Teachers of the Year. The State Teacher of the Year is expected to be announced at the State Board of Education’s October meeting, and will go on to represent New Jersey in competing for the title of National Teacher of the Year.
New Jersey’s 2018-19 County Teachers of the Year are as follows:
2018-2019 County Teachers of the Year
County | First Name | Last Name | Grade Level | Subject Area | School | School District |
Atlantic | Mark | Deebold | 9th-12th | ESL | Atlantic City High School | Atlantic City School District |
Bergen | Christine | Esola | Kindergarten | Special Education | The Valley Program | Northern Valley Reg. H.S. District |
Burlington | Melissa | Antinoff | 3rd | Elementary | Ashbrook Elementary School | Lumberton School District |
Camden | Jennifer | Mazzochi | 8th | Special Education | Charles W. Lewis Middle School | Gloucester Township School District |
Cape May | Carrie | Merritt | 1st | Elementary | Ocean City Primary School | Ocean City School District |
Cumberland | Vicki | Yeager | 10th-12th | Chemistry | Vineland High School | Vineland School District |
Essex | Smita | Dharsi | 2nd | Elementary | Edgemont Montessori School | Montclair School District |
Gloucester | Vanessa | Paccione | 3rd-5th | Art | General Charles G. Harker School | Swedesboro-Woolwich School District |
Hudson | Patricia | Smeyers | 5th | Elementary | Clarendon Elementary School | Secaucus School District |
Hunterdon | Amy | Mullay | 9th-12th | Latin | North Hunterdon High School | North Hunterdon-Voorhees Reg. H.S. District |
Mercer | Nicholas | Johnson | 10th-12th | Science | Central High School | Hopewell Valley Regional School District |
Middlesex | Matthew | Wechter | 3rd | Elementary | Robert N. Wilentz Elementary School | Perth Amboy School District |
Monmouth | Todd | Curtis | 10th-12th | Social Studies | Howell High School | Freehold Regional High School District |
Morris | Jennifer | Skomial | 9th-12th | CTE Child Development | Morris County School of Technology | Morris County Vocational School District |
Ocean | William | Smith | 7th-8th | Social Studies | Southern Regional Middle School | Southern Regional School District |
Passaic | Robert | Edgar | 9th-12th | English | Pompton Lakes High School | Pompton Lakes School District |