Essex County ‘Teacher Of Year’ Hails From West Orange School District – West Orange, NJ Patch

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A special education teacher in West Orange took home the honors as the latest Essex County “Teacher of the Year,” state officials announced Thursday.

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has announced the 21 educators who have been named the state’s 2022-2023 County Teachers of the Year (watch the video here).

In Essex County, this year’s honoree was Kristen Dunleavy, a special education teacher at Redwood Elementary School in the West Orange Public School District.

According to the NJDOE, here are some of the achievements that earned Dunleavy the nod in Essex County:

“Kristen Dunleavy earned her undergraduate degree in special education and master’s degree in counseling from The College of New Jersey. Kristen has been serving West Orange students and families for 16 years. Her teaching strengths are greatly supported by her social-emotional insights. Kristen is certified as a Supervisor in Education and contributes with her leadership in various school roles. She is a member of her school’s Pandemic Team, and she mentors’ colleagues in creating a thriving digital learning environment. She is also a Google Certified Educator, and her lessons are brought to life through the research and incorporation of constantly evolving virtual learning tools. Most importantly, Kristen advocates for disability awareness, inclusion, and representation. As a life-long wheelchair user, she teaches by example with her unique perspective on life, learning and perseverance. She is professionally driven to empower students of all abilities with the skills and strategies needed to achieve success.”

Dunleavy and the other County Teachers of the Year will network with educators throughout the state and serve as ambassadors for New Jersey’s public schools during the upcoming school year. A panel of educators will then select the overall “New Jersey State Teacher of the Year” from among their ranks.

• 2020-21 – David Coster, Cedar Grove High School
• 2019-20 – Yanelis Cabaleiro-Rempusheski, Belleville School #3
• 2018-19 – Smita Dharsi, Edgemont Montessori School (Montclair)

Individual schools nominate educators for the award through the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program.

“These 21 educators are exemplary models of the kinds of dynamic teaching that takes place in New Jersey’s classrooms,” Gov. Phil Murphy said.