The New Jersey Department of Education recently announced the 21 educators who have been named New Jersey’s 2024-2025 County Teachers of the Year. The educators were recognized at an Aug. 6 awards ceremony 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 Gov. 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. More information is available on the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program webpage.

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

CountyTeacherPositionSchoolSchool District
 AtlanticCarly Broomhead Visual Arts TeacherEmma C. Attales Middle SchoolAbsecon School District
 Bergen Margarita DiakosSpecial Education Teacher Ramsey High SchoolRamsey School District
 BurlingtonMargaret FanourgakisHealth & Physical Education Teacher Shawnee High SchoolLenape Regional High School District
CamdenStacey Brown- DownhamElementary Reading InterventionistJ. F. Tatem Elementary SchoolHaddonfield School District
 Cape May Antonio Martín FrancoSpanish, Health & Physical Education Teacher Stone Harbor Elementary School Avalon Stone Harbor School District
 Cumberland Karolina MillsEnglish as a Second Language TeacherMarie D. Durand Elementary SchoolVineland School District
 Essex El Houcin HoussamMathematics TeacherWest Side High School Newark School District
 Gloucester Vanessa PoggioliMathematics TeacherThomas E. Bowe Middle SchoolGlassboro School District
 Hudson Kelly CarrollMulti-Sensory Reading SpecialistMary J. Donohoe Community SchoolBayonne School District
 Hunterdon Meghan Luick Mathematics Teacher North Hunterdon High SchoolNorth Hunterdon- Voorhees Regional High School District
 

Mercer

 

Nicole Hamlet

 

Biology Teacher

Trenton Central High School 

Trenton School District

 

Middlesex

 

Kristen Johnson

Social Studies TeacherCarteret Middle SchoolCarteret School District
 Monmouth Sara Mazzone English TeacherRed Bank Regional

High School

Red Bank Regional

High School District

 Morris Alyssa GuagentiGifted & Talented & Special Education Teacher Jefferson Township Middle School Jefferson Township School District
 Ocean Jill Falletta First Grade Teacher Beach Haven SchoolBeach Haven School District
Passaic Bernadette Orsita Spanish TeacherManchester Regional High SchoolManchester Regional High School District
 Salem Deanna Miller Agri-Science Teacher Woodstown High SchoolWoodstown- Pilesgrove Regional School District
 Somerset Stefanie Lachenauer Social Studies Teacher Montgomery Upper Middle SchoolMontgomery Township School District
 

Sussex

 

Mary Houghtaling

 

English Teacher

Kittatinny Regional High SchoolKittatinny Regional School District
 Union Alejandro Mejía Spanish TeacherDavid Brearley Middle-High SchoolKenilworth School District
 WarrenJennifer Mazziotta- WalterVisual Arts & Gifted & Talented TeacherHarmony Township SchoolHarmony Township School District