Galloway's Dougherty Named Atlantic County Teacher of Year

The Christie Administration on Wednesday announced New Jersey's County Teachers of the Year, and a Roland Rogers Elementary School teacher is Atlantic County's winner.

Third-grade teacher Theresa Dougherty was selected and is now in the running to be named statewide Teacher of the Year.

Dougherty has been teaching in the Galloway Township District for 13 years in grades K-3. She is the recipient of a $10,000 grant and a visit to the White House as the winner of the nationwide teaching contest, The Great American Teach Off.

She is the 2012 K-5 New Jersey VFW Teacher of the Year, and Soroptimist International 2012 Woman of Achievement Person of the Year. As a teacher leader, Terry is the facilitator for her professional learning community grade level team, a mentor teacher, and is a presenter for professional development.

In the spirit of serving others, she volunteers a great deal of her time to a program she created and coordinates, They Are Heroes Too, tutoring military children. Dougherty received a grant for her work with children who are constantly relocated because their parents are in the military, and she expanded the program partnering with Richard Stockton College.

She graduated from Richard Stockton College with a B.A. in Teacher Education K-8 and Sociology/Anthropology. Presently, she is completing her Master of Arts in Education at Richard Stockton College. 

“Each of us can recall special teachers who, through their knowledge and inspiration, helped us achieve greater heights as students and even played a role in shaping our future,” said Education Commissioner Chris Cerf. “These teachers are such an inspiration to their students, and to all of us here in New Jersey.”

The county teachers of the year were chosen by a countywide panel of administrators, teachers, parents and county education association representatives convened by the executive county superintendents of schools.

A state-level panel of educators will select New Jersey's State Teacher of the Year from among the 2013-14 County Teachers of the Year based on a written application, video submission, and interviews of the top five finalists. The announcement is made at the October meeting of the State Board of Education. The winner will represent New Jersey at the National Teacher of the Year competition.

“As a former teacher and lifelong educator, I’ve seen firsthand how teachers like these can serve as ambassadors for the profession and showcase the contributions that exceptional educators make toward improving the quality of life in New Jersey,” said Commissioner Cerf.