“It’s no surprise that New Jersey ranks first in the nation, thanks to our outstanding educators, exemplified by our County Teachers of the Year. These individuals have committed themselves to the noble profession of teaching our students. Congratulations to this year’s County Teachers of the Year on this well-deserved recognition—I couldn’t be prouder,” said NJEA President Sean M. Spiller.

“Being named one of our County Teachers of the Year is an incredible achievement, reflecting not just past accomplishments but a commitment to ongoing dedication to a profession that is as much a calling as it is a career. The passion these educators bring to teaching our students is a testament to why New Jersey boasts the top schools in the nation,” said NJEA Vice President Steve Beatty.

“This prestigious honor highlights the remarkable efforts of our dedicated educators and the profound impact they have on our students and communities. They are the embodiment of public education, forging connections with our students through love, care, compassion and courage,” said NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson.

Atlantic 

Carly Broomhead is a visual arts teacher at Emma C. Attales Middle School in the Absecon School District.

Bergen

Margarita Diakos is a special education teacher at Ramsey High School, in the Ramsey School District.

Burlington

Margaret Fanourgakis is a health and physical education teacher at Shawnee High School in the Lenape Regional School District.

Camden

Stacey Brown-Downham is an elementary reading interventionist at J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School in the Haddonfield School District.

Cape May

Antonio Martín Franco is a Spanish and health and physical education teacher at the Stone Harbor Elementary School in the Avalon Stone Harbor School District.

Cumberland

Karolina Mills is an English as a second language teacher at Marie D. Durand Elementary School in the Vineland School District.

Essex

El Houcin Houssam is a mathematics teacher at the West Side High School in the Newark School District.

Gloucester

Vanessa Poggioli is a mathematics teacher at the Thomas E. Bowe Middle School in the Glassboro School District.

Hudson

Kelly Carroll is a districtwide multisensory reading specialist based at the Mary J. Donohoe Community School in the Bayonne School District.

Hunterdon

Meghan Luick is a mathematics teacher at North Hunterdon High School in the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District.

Mercer

Nicole Hamlet is a biology teacher at Trenton Central High School in the Trenton School District.

Middlesex

Kristen Johnson is a social studies teacher at Carteret Middle School in the Carteret School District.

Monmouth

Sara Mazzone is an English teacher at Red Bank Regional High School in the Red Bank Regional High School District.

Morris

Alyssa Guagenti is a gifted and talented and special education teacher at Jefferson Township Middle School in the Jefferson Township School District.

Ocean

Jill Falletta is a first-grade teacher at Beach Haven Elementary School in the Beach Haven School District.

Passaic

Bernadette Orsita is a Spanish teacher at Manchester Regional High School in the Manchester Regional High School District.

Salem

Deanna Miller is an agri-science teacher at Woodstown High School in the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District.

Somerset

Stefanie Lachenauer is a skills for success and global leadership teacher at Montgomery Upper Middle School in the Montgomery Township School District.

Sussex

Mary Houghtaling is an English teacher at the Kittatinny Regional High School in the Kittatinny Regional School District.

Union

Alejandro Mejia is a Spanish teacher at David Brearley Middle-High School in the Kenilworth School District.

Warren

Jennifer Mazziotta-Walter is a K-8 visual arts and gifted education teacher at Harmony Township School in the Harmony Township School District.