West Essex Middle School Teacher Quarterfinalist for National Award

A West Essex Middle School teacher was named as a quarter-finalist in the Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation's Music Educator Award. 

Donna Mateyka made the final cut along with 217 other music teachers from 45 states. These finalists were chosen from more than 30,000 initial nominations.  

The Music Educator Award recognizes educators who have made lasting contribution to the field of music education, according to the Grammy website.

One recipient will eventually be selected from 10 finalists. The winner will be flown to Los Angeles, Calif., to accept the award, attend the GRAMMY Awards ceremony in January 2014, and receive $10,000. The nine finalists will receive $1,000, and the schools of all 10 finalists also will receive matching grants. 

The New Jersey quarter-finalists include: 

Carol

Beadle

Liberty Corner Elementary School

Liberty Corner

N.J.

Andrew

DeNicola

John P. Stevens High School

Edison

N.J.

Cynthia

Feeney

Ironia Elementary School

Randolph

N.J.

John

Gillick

Terrill Middle School

Scotch Plains

N.J.

Jeffrey

Haas

Ridgewood High School

Ridgewood

N.J.

Keith

Hodgson

Mainland Regional High School

Linwood

N.J.

Barbara

Klemp

Chatham High School

Chatham

N.J.

Mark

Kraft

South Brunswick High School

Monmouth Junction

N.J.

Spencer

Lau

Woodruff Middle School

Seabrook

N.J.

Dr. Eva Diane

Lyle-Smith

Dr. Brimm Medical Arts High School

Camden

N.J.

Donna

Mateyka

West Essex Regional High School

Caldwell

N.J.

Regina

McAllen

Howell High School

Farmingdale

N.J.

Brian

McLaughlin

West Milford High School

West Milford

N.J.

Todd

Nichols

Roxbury High School

Succasunna

N.J.

Kenneth

Piascik

Black River Middle School

Chester

N.J.

Juan

Pineda

Academy for Performing Arts

Scotch Plains

N.J.

Eric

Schaberg

Randolph High School

Randolph

N.J.