HALEDON, NJ — A high school Spanish teacher in Passaic County is among the top students in the class when the state Department of Education announced the county’s 2024-25 Teachers of the Year.
Bernadette Orsita was nominated by her peers at Manchester Regional High School in Haledon – making her the first Manchester Regional teacher to ever win the annual award, district officials said.
Orsita was honored along with 20 other educators on Tuesday during an awards ceremony at the College of New Jersey in Ewing.
To determine the County Teachers of the Year, individual schools select their Teachers of the Year, who are then eligible to apply for the title of County Teacher of the Year through the Governor’s Program for the Year, the New Jersey Department of Education explained.
According to officials, the County Teachers of the Year will network with colleagues across the state during the upcoming school year and serve as representatives of New Jersey’s public schools.
A panel of educators selects 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 top finalists.
“The dynamic educators we are recognizing today serve as ambassadors for the profession,” said Acting Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. “When we highlight the tremendous efforts of our 21 County Teachers of the Year, we not only shine a spotlight on the accomplishments of these teachers, but also on all of the schools and districts that support these remarkable educators to demonstrate why New Jersey schools are national leaders.”
