NEW JERSEY – The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) Tuesday announced the 21 educators who have been named New Jersey’s 2024-2025 County Teachers of the Year.
The educators were recognized at an awards ceremony today at The College of New Jersey in Ewing.
“New Jersey’s public schools are considered the best in the nation because of our outstanding teachers, and this year’s 21 County Teachers of the Year exemplify that excellence,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Exceptional educators are the key to ensuring that students across New Jersey will have a bright future.”
“The dynamic educators that we recognize today serve as ambassadors of the profession,” said Acting Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. “When we highlight the great efforts from our 21 County Teachers of the Year, we shine a spotlight not only on the accomplishments of these teachers, but also on all of the schools and districts that support these remarkable educators to show why New Jersey schools lead the nation.”
Individual schools select Teachers of the Year, who are then eligible to apply for County Teacher of the Year through the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program, which was established to promote a positive school culture by acknowledging the commitment and dedication of outstanding teachers and educational services professionals.
The County Teachers of the Year will network with colleagues throughout the state and serve as representatives for New Jersey’s public schools during the upcoming school year.
A panel of educators will select the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year from among the 21 County Teachers of the Year based on written applications, video submissions, and interviews with the top finalists. 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.
New Jersey’s 2024-2025 County Teachers of the Year
- Atlantic County: Carly Broomhead Visual Arts Teacher Emma C. Attales Middle School Absecon School District
- Bergen County: Margarita Diakos Special Education Teacher Ramsey High School Ramsey School District
- Burlington County: Margaret Fanourgakis Health & Physical Education Teacher Shawnee High School Lenape Regional High School District
- Camden County: Stacey Brown-Downham Elementary Reading Interventionist J. F. Tatem Elementary School Haddonfield School District
- Cape May County: Antonio Martín Franco Spanish, Health & Physical Education Teacher Stone Harbor Elementary School Avalon Stone Harbor School District
- Cumberland County: Karolina Mills English as a Second Language Teacher Marie D. Durand Elementary School Vineland School District
- Essex County: El Houcin Houssam Mathematics Teacher West Side High School Newark School District
- Gloucester County: Vanessa Poggioli Mathematics Teacher Thomas E. Bowe Middle School Glassboro School District
- Hudson County Kelly Carroll Multi-Sensory Reading Specialist Mary J. Donohoe Community School Bayonne School District
- Hunterdon County Meghan Luick Mathematics Teacher North Hunterdon High School North Hunterdon- Voorhees Regional High School District
- Mercer County: Nicole Hamlet Biology Teacher Trenton Central High School Trenton School District
- Middlesex County: Kristen Johnson Social Studies Teacher Carteret Middle School Carteret School District
- Monmouth County Sara Mazzone English Teacher Red Bank Regional High School Red Bank Regional High School District
- Morris County: Alyssa Guagenti Gifted & Talented & Special Education Teacher Jefferson Township Middle School Jefferson Township School District
- Ocean County: Jill Falletta First Grade Teacher Beach Haven School Beach Haven School District
- Passaic County Bernadette Orsita Spanish Teacher Manchester Regional High School Manchester Regional High School District
- Salem County: Deanna Miller Agri-Science Teacher Woodstown High School Woodstown- Pilesgrove Regional School District
- Somerset County: Stefanie Lachenauer Social Studies Teacher Montgomery Upper Middle School Montgomery Township School District
- Sussex County: Mary Houghtaling English Teacher Kittatinny Regional High School Kittatinny Regional School District
- Union Alejandro Mejía Spanish Teacher David Brearley Middle-High School Kenilworth School District
- Warren County: Jennifer Mazziotta-Walter Visual Arts & Gifted & Talented Teacher Harmony Township School Harmony Township School District
