Hopatcong Teacher Chosen As Sussex County Teacher Of Year

HOPATCONG, NJ — There are 21 teachers throughout New Jersey - one in each county - who were bestowed a special honor on Wednesday, Shawna Longo among them.

Longo was the New Jersey Department of Education’s Sussex County teacher pick for the Governor’s Educator of the Year program for 2021-2022.

She teaches music and is an Arts Integration Specialist at Durban Avenue School, part of the Hopatcong Borough School District.

“New Jersey public schools have been recognized as the best in the nation and the strength of our schools is driven by our dynamic educators,” Gov. Phil Murphy commented in a news release about the 21 chosen teachers.

“Congratulations to all of the County Teachers of the Year,” Murphy added. “They are true exemplars of the innovative instruction and educational greatness that New Jersey offers to students.”

On Murphy’s social media, there was also a special post congratulating Longo.

Longo tweeted on social media that she has been the first music teacher from Sussex County to have received this honor.

Words cannot describe how proud I am to be the FIRST music teacher to be named the Sussex County Teacher of the Year!! So excited to be in this amazing cohort of NJ teachers and see where the journey leads me! @NJMEA @ArtsEdNJ @HopatcongSchool @HopatcongEA @NJEA @WeAreMPSD https://t.co/JlNV40uQwz
— Shawna Longo (@shawnalongo) August 25, 2021

Hopatcong Superintendent Dr. Joseph Piccirillo called Longo an inspiration, after retweeting a video posted of her on Sussex County’s New Jersey Department of Education site about the announcement.

“You make us so proud,” Piccirillo wrote, with the hashtag “chiefbelief” for the Hopatcong Chiefs.

In the video, Longo gave thanks to family and friends, Durban Avenue School colleagues and Principal Katherine McFadden, Piccirillo, Sussex County's Executive Superintendent Dr. Gayle Carrick and the Hopatcong Schools’ community, for their support.

You are an inspiration @shawnalongo !! You make us so proud! #chiefbelief https://t.co/JzShvYK03U
— Dr. Joseph S. Piccirillo (@ChiefPiccirillo) August 25, 2021

“I am the teacher today because of my students,” Longo expressed in the video. “I am forever grateful for their inspiration, creativity and eagerness to learn, that continues to shape and evolve my practice as an arts educator.”

She added that the more teachers listen to students’ individual needs, they better they will be prepared for life.

We celebrate the extraordinary service of these teachers for their ongoing efforts to ensure that our students succeed both inside and outside of the classroom,” Acting Education Commissioner Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillian commented.

The next step for each of New Jersey’s selected teachers will be in the role as ambassadors for the state’s schools. Each of them will then submit applications, videos and interviews for the role of New Jersey State Teacher of the Year, with the materials they send in evaluated by a panel of educators.

After the announcement of State Teacher of the Year, likely to happen in October at the State Board of Education’s meeting, that chosen teacher will move up to compete for National Teacher of the Year.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.