Commissioner Davy Announces 2009-10 County Teachers of the Year

NJDOE News

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    Richard Vespucci
    Beth Auerswald
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For Immediate Release: June 8, 2009

Commissioner Davy Announces 2009-10 County Teachers of the Year

New Jersey’s annual search for the State Teacher of the Year has moved to the next level with Commissioner of Education Lucille E. Davy’s announcement of the 21 County Teachers of the Year and the State Facility Teacher of the Year.

The portfolios of the talented teachers, which include a Teacher of the Year application and a 15-minute DVD, will be evaluated by a state-level panel of educators who will recommend finalists to be interviewed in September.

“Our approach to participating in the National Teacher of the Year Program actually allows us to recognize and celebrate the talent and accomplishments of hundreds of teachers in New Jersey,” Commissioner Davy said. “The selection process begins at the grassroots, with locally selected school and district teachers of the year. This approach matches the spirit of the competition, which is intended to lead to the selection of one teacher who symbolizes exemplary qualities found in many excellent teachers who work in our schools.

“I congratulate our county winners and the state facility winner and look forward to introducing our new state teacher of the year in October,” Commissioner Davy said.

The county level selections were made by panels representing a cross-section of administrators, teachers, parents and county education association representatives convened by the executive county superintendents of schools.

New Jersey’s State Teacher of the Year serves as an ambassador for the profession by:

Articulating the many ways that teachers contribute to the profession;
Communicating ideas about current issues and challenges that confront the profession; and
Sharing knowledge about specific programs and instructional strategies that benefit teachers and students.

The State Teacher of the Year (STOY) receives a six-month sabbatical from January through June from his or her teacher assignment in order to fulfill the STOY role, and also assumes the following responsibilities:

Attends the National Teacher of the Year Conference, International Space Camp, the National Teachers’ Forum and the National Teacher of the Year ceremony; and
Becomes a candidate for the National Teacher of the Year Program.

New Jersey’s current Teacher of the Year is Jeanne M. Muzzi, a first-grade teacher at the Ben Franklin School in Lawrenceville, Mercer County.

Please see the attached list of New Jersey’s 2009-10 County Teachers of the Year and State Facility Teacher of the Year.