Special Ed Teacher Earns Women's Merit Award

The following was submitted on behalf of Centenary College.

Monica Heinze, a special education teacher from Sparta Middle School and a graduate alumna from Centenary College, was recently selected for the Executive Women of New Jersey (EWNJ) Graduate Merit Award in the sum of $5,000.

The Executive Women of New Jersey (EWNJ) scholarship program has awarded over $1.1 million in scholarship assistance to non-traditional graduate school students attending New Jersey colleges and universities. EWNJ recognizes and invests in the future of women’s professional careers.

Dr. Timothy J. Fredericks, Assistant Professor of Education and Graduate Education Program Coordinator nominated Heinze for this opportunity.

“Monica works very diligently to advance her career while supporting her family,” said Fredericks. “She is dedicated to her studies and is a passionate advocate for children, especially those with disabilities. Those reasons are why I felt that she would be extremely worthy of this honor.” 

Heinze graduated with a Marketing degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She owned three diverse types of companies before becoming an educator – a graphic design firm, a horse breeding farm and a gasoline station. 

Her son inspired her to become a teacher because of his own learning disabilities that delayed his ability to read until the fifth grade. With the help that he received, her son has since excelled academically and is now a student at Drew University.  

She got her feet wet as a teacher’s aide at Kittatinny High School and decided to enroll at Centenary College to earn her teaching certificate and then went on to earn a graduate degree in Special Education in 2011.  She continued her studies and completed a graduate degree in Educational Leadership in May 2013 with a Principal’s certificate.

Heinze’s goal is to become a Principal in the future because she feels that she would be able to change American education for the better. 

“I want to be able to make a positive impact on a large scale,” said Heinze.  “Being able to inspire teachers and students of an entire school appeals to me tremendously and would be an opportunity that I would excel at.”