DOVER, N.J. (Morris County) — A Dover High School dance teacher who built a four-year dance program focused on creativity, equity and community has been named New Jersey’s 2026-27 State Teacher of the Year.
The New Jersey Department of Education announced that Hannah Olmo, who has taught at Dover High School for eight years, received the statewide honor.
Olmo developed a four-year dance program that serves approximately 100 students through academic courses and more than 80 students through extracurricular activities.
Her passion for expanding access to dance education began when she was a teenager growing up in the Midwest. At 16, she formally asked her local school board to add dance to the school’s arts offerings but was denied.
“I was called to the field of education at a very young age. As a student, I yearned for a dance program in my own high school, and that experience inspired me to make it my mission to provide a free, equitable dance education to as many students as I possibly can,” said Hannah Olmo. “At the very moment I was told no, I knew I wanted to be part of the movement to change that reality for other young dancers eager to chase their dreams. I believe dance has the power to build confidence, give students a space to express who they are and what they believe, and create a sense of community like no other.”
Olmo earned a bachelor’s degree in dance from Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts and a master’s degree in dance education from Rutgers Graduate School of Education.
At Dover High School, she founded the Dance Club, Heritage Dance Ensemble and the school’s first chapter of the National Honor Society of Dance Arts. She also revitalized the Latin Mix Club as a culturally focused dance group.
Under her leadership, students have earned recognition at the Morris County Teen Arts Festival and State Teen Arts Festival, while several have continued their dance education at the college level and beyond.
Olmo also produces the school’s annual Spring Dance Concert, one of the district’s largest events, featuring more than 100 student performers and attracting more than 600 audience members each year.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill congratulated Olmo on receiving the statewide recognition.
“Congratulations to Hannah Olmo for being named New Jersey’s State Teacher of the Year,” said Governor Mikie Sherrill. “Hannah is a credit to her profession, representing the best our state’s K-12 public school system has to offer. Through her creativity, dedication, and commitment to her students, she demonstrates the kind of excellence taking place in classrooms across our state every day. Our schools need teachers like Hannah, who help support our kids and give them the tools they need to thrive, both academically and beyond.”
New Jersey Education Commissioner Lily Laux said Olmo’s selection highlights the importance of arts education in public schools.
“New Jersey has long recognized the arts as an essential part of a comprehensive education, making it especially meaningful to see a dance educator named State Teacher of the Year,” said Education Commissioner Lily Laux. “Hannah’s journey from aspiring teenage dancer to award-winning educator reminds us of the transformative power of deeply committed and passionate education professionals. Her leadership reflects New Jersey’s longstanding commitment to excellence in arts education.”
State Board of Education President Kathy Goldenberg said Olmo will serve as an ambassador for the teaching profession.
“Hannah embodies the qualities that define exceptional teaching: expertise, innovation, and a deep commitment to students’ success,” said Kathy Goldenberg, President of the State Board of Education. “As New Jersey’s State Teacher of the Year, she will serve as an ambassador for the profession, sharing her experience with educators across the state and helping strengthen connections within New Jersey’s educational community. Her story is a powerful reminder of the impact one teacher can have and an inspiration to those considering a career in education.”
Dover School District Superintendent Luis Jaime said Olmo has created an environment where students can develop their talents while feeling connected to their school community.
“Mrs. Hannah Olmo has shown us that when an educator truly sees their students, a program can become so much more than what it was originally designed to be. What began as a dance program has become a place where students find their voice, build confidence, celebrate their culture, and, most importantly, feel a sense of belonging,” said Luis Jaime, Superintendent, Dover School District.
“Hannah has created a space where students can be unapologetically themselves while discovering talents and strengths they may not have known they had. This is what exceptional teaching looks like: creating connections, opening doors, and giving students a place to call home within their school.”
Dover High School Principal Johanna Ross praised Olmo’s dedication to her students.
“When you see Mrs. Olmo with her students, you can see how much she cares about them. She brings joy into the classroom, challenges students to give their best, and celebrates their growth along the way,” said Johanna Ross, Principal, Dover High School. “She reminds us that teaching is about so much more than the subject you teach; it is about the relationships you build and the difference you make in the lives of your students that extends far beyond the classroom.”
Olmo said creating a welcoming environment for students remains central to her work.
“Many of my students call the dance studio ‘home,’ and that is a phrase I never take lightly,” said Hannah. “If I can give my students a place where they feel seen and where they know they belong, then I know I am exactly where I am meant to be.”
As State Teacher of the Year, Olmo will work with the New Jersey Department of Education, give presentations to educators and other stakeholders, speak with aspiring teachers and visit classrooms throughout the state.
Her responsibilities will include promoting diversity in the teaching profession and continued educational improvement. She will also participate in national conferences with other State Teachers of the Year.
Olmo was selected from three finalists who received the highest scores during an application and interview process involving representatives from state education associations and other stakeholder groups.
The other finalists were Melissa Arrambide, a second-grade teacher at Mountain Villa School in the Allamuchy Township School District in Warren County, and Jennifer Vogel, a STEM teacher at Melvin H. Kreps Middle School in the East Windsor Regional School District in Mercer County.
Additional information about the State Teacher of the Year program is available through the New Jersey Department of Education’s Governor’s Educator of the Year webpage.
