New Jersey’s ‘Teacher Of The Year’ Was Almost Deported – Patch.com

EAST ORANGE, NJ — Theresa Maughan hasn’t forgotten what it was like to almost be deported.

Decades ago, New Jersey’s latest “Teacher of the Year” — who heads a classroom at East Orange STEM Academy in Essex County — was nearly forced to leave the United States as a child when her parents’ visas expired. And if not for some compassionate action from her own teacher, the state would have never seen one of its most talented educators blossom into the leader she is now.

“I was in seventh grade when I realized I was a ‘Dreamer,’ as the term is used today,” said Maughan, whose family originally hails from Belize and settled in Hudson County when she was in elementary school.

“My social studies teacher, Mrs. Roman, launched a campaign to help save me from deportation,” Maughan said, recalling her mentor’s letter-writing blitz to Congress.

The effort worked, and the family was able to go through the naturalization process and become U.S. citizens. What’s more, it taught an entire class — Maughan included — that they could take their civics lessons and use them in the real world.

And that realization ignited a fire in Maughan’s heart that still burns, the history teacher says.

At first, Maughan dreamed of starting a career as an immigration lawyer so she could help others in her shoes — a pathway that others in New Jersey have taken. Read More: This Lawyer Used To Deport Immigrants; Now She Defends Them

But a few years later in high school, another of Maughan’s social studies teachers assigned her the role of “teacher for the day” as the class re-enacted a simulation of the impeachment trial of former President Andrew Johnson.

“I was hooked,” she remembered. “I knew that a career in teaching would provide me with the best opportunity to fulfill my commitment to work for change.”

And that’s exactly what she’s been doing for 40 years, state officials say.

From her classroom in East Orange, Maughan has challenged her students to reach for new learning opportunities and enter statewide and national academic contests. Recently, she chaperoned a group of STEM students to the annual Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. She later secured an opportunity for them to participate in the Hamilton Education Program, where they created performance pieces such as songs, raps and a monologue about the Founding Era.

Maughan’s students have won Black History Month Essay contests sponsored by the New Jersey Bar Association, the New Jersey Department of State Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission essay contest, and were state finalists in the National History Day competition.

Maughan’s love of education and ability to inspire the same in others has also taken root in her own household; her daughter has followed her footsteps as a special education teacher in New Jersey.

As one might expect, Maughan is no stranger to awards. According to the New Jersey Education Association, she has previously been named the Teacher of the Year at East Orange High School, East Orange Campus High School and East Orange STEM Academy. She is also the 2021 Essex County Teacher of the Year and the NJ History Day/National History Day Patricia Behring Senior Division Teacher of the Year. And for more than a decade, Maughan has attended the summer workshops held by the New Jersey Amistad Commission, and she is proud to be serving as an Amistad Scholar.

It’s all enough to give many educators an excuse to take a well-deserved breather. But for Maughan, education is a lifelong quest. Although she already holds a bachelor’s degree in education and history from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in administration and supervision from New Jersey City University, the seasoned teacher is doggedly in pursuit of a second master’s degree from Pace University in New York City, this time in American history.

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There was no shortage of well-wishers congratulating the Morris County resident on Wednesday, including Gov. Phil Murphy.

“New Jersey has been recognized as having the best education system in the country, and this can be attributed to dedicated educators like Theresa,” the governor said. “We congratulate Theresa on this prestigious honor. She embodies the strength of New Jersey’s school system and of our proud immigrant community.”

“Teaching has always been a noble profession and now more than ever, it is important we have people of strong character, steeped in the principles of truth and knowledge,” said NJEA President Sean Spiller, who is also the mayor of Montclair.

“It’s fitting that in this moment, at this time, we have a history teacher as our state Teacher of the Year,” Spiller said. “Theresa’s expertise and voice serves as a guiding path to show how educators teach critical thinking skills, how students learn to draw conclusions based on facts, and how important it is to share the stories of all people.”

And of course, some of Maughan’s most ardent fans include her co-workers and students, as seen in the below video.

“Mrs. Maughan is a remarkable educator who demonstrates outstanding teaching strategies, daily,” said Vincent Stallings, principal of the East Orange STEM Academy.

“Her students are always at the center of her lessons and student engagement is extremely high,” Stallings said. “Mrs. Maughan is a respected leader amongst her peers and district colleagues – her level of professionalism is unmatched.”

While the global pandemic may alter or delay some perks of the award, as the New Jersey Teacher of the Year, Maughan is entitled to an all-expense-paid six-month sabbatical from January through June 2022 to attend national and state conferences, to tour the state visiting classrooms and to work on various initiatives at the New Jersey Department of Education, courtesy of program sponsor ETS.

Her leadership will be appreciated as the state continues to cope with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.

“Now is the time to celebrate outstanding teachers more than any other period in our recent history,” asserted Kathy Goldenberg, president of the state Board of Education.

“Throughout the challenges posed by this global pandemic, educators have truly risen to the challenge and demonstrated their dedication to the students they serve,” Goldenberg said. “Mrs. Theresa Maughan exemplifies this level of professionalism and dedication.”

AbdulSaleem Hasan, superintendent of the East Orange School District, said Wednesday’s announcement is inspirational for the entire district.

“We are truly proud of Mrs. Maughan,” Hasan said. “In the midst of a global pandemic and the challenges inherent in virtual learning, she was able to adapt and overcome and ensure her students received a world-class education.”

Maughan was one of four finalists for New Jersey State Teacher of the Year. Other finalists included:

• Lynne Bussott, a second-grade teacher at the Governor Charles C. Stratton School, Swedesboro-Woolwich School District in Gloucester County
• Alyssa Geary, a special education and English language arts educator at the Red Bank Middle School, Red Bank Borough School District in Monmouth County
• Faith Roncoroni, an English teacher at the Phillipsburg High School, Phillipsburg School District in Warren County

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

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