2 Bergen County Teachers To Be Honored As 'Outstanding' At Princeton University: See Who

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Princeton University has announced the names of the four outstanding New Jersey secondary school teachers to be honored at its 2025 Commencement on May 27 — and two are from Bergen County.

Each will receive $5,000, as well as $3,000 for their school libraries, the University said.

This year’s recipients of the Princeton Prize for Distinguished Secondary School Teaching are Davine Floy of the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology, Laurianne Brunetti Kuipers of Memorial Middle School in Fair Lawn, An Nguyen of Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill, and Theodore Opderbeck of Waldwick High School.

The University said, of Kuipers, "For 23 years, Laurianne Brunetti Kuipers has helped her students develop a love for literature, a commitment to citizenship and community service, and empathy for one another. The English teacher, who teaches seventh grade Language Arts, Literature Connections and Developmental Reading at Memorial Middle School in Fair Lawn, was selected by her school in 2001 and 2018 to be recognized by the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program."

A former student said, “Her infectious and inspirational spirit, as well as her passion for literature shine through to all of us."

An administrator called Kuipers the “heartbeat of Memorial.”

Kuipers founded her school’s Character Education program, designing a nationally acclaimed curriculum that encourages students to be upstanding citizens.

Under her leadership, Memorial received a National Schools of Character Award and a State Schools of Character Award. She also created Celebrate America, a popular club for community service projects, and the Points of Light student recognition program.

The other Bergen County teacher to win was Theodore Opderbeck of Waldwick High School, who has taught social studies for 29 years.

"Over 29 years as a social studies teacher at Waldwick High School, Theodore Opderbeck has inspired students to bring an entrepreneurial zest to business and civic engagement, locally and globally," the University said.

“From AP Economics to Criminal Justice to U.S. History, his lessons are not only rich in content but also emphasize skills and real-world application,” an administrator said. “Students leave his classes with a deeper understanding of the world and a readiness to navigate it with confidence.”

In an annual “Shark Tank” event, students in his economics and social entrepreneurship classes pitch ideas to members of the Waldwick Chamber of Commerce, whose critiques sharpen their strategies. His social studies students partnered with science and culinary arts students to create the Waldwick CSA, a farm that provides produce to a local food bank.

Colleagues also noted the vitality of his classes. “You can always walk by his room and see the magic happening — his students love being in his class and they love learning when they are in his room,” said one.

Opderbeck created the popular Waldwick High School Global Awareness Club, which partners with a school in Kisii, Kenya, to apply entrepreneurial thinking to local projects. He also advises the photography club and coaches varsity boys’ tennis and varsity girls’ volleyball.

“When he teaches, when he is coaching or if he is simply having a conversation, he puts 110 percent into everything,” one student said.

Among his many honors, Opderbeck was named his school’s Teacher of the Year in 2004 and 2012 and received the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Teaching Champion Award in 2017.

“The selection committee recognizes these four individuals as the kind of educator whose imprint on students lasts far beyond their time in the classroom," said Michael Gordin, dean of the college and the Rosengarten Professor of Modern and Contemporary History. "They are committed to their students, are dedicated to the craft of teaching, and contribute in countless ways to their communities.

“These four extraordinary teachers demonstrate the remarkable teaching taking place across the state of New Jersey,” said Todd Kent, director of Princeton’s Program in Teacher Preparation, when the recipients were announced.

Ten finalists were selected by the Program in Teacher Preparation staff and visited at their schools by Rosanne Zeppieri and Paul Chapin, members of the program staff.

The four winners were then selected by a committee chaired by Elizabeth Colagiuri, deputy dean of the college, that also includes Kent; Jennifer Jennings, professor of sociology and public affairs and a faculty associate of the Office of Population Research; Sabine Kastner, professor of psychology and neuroscience; and William Miron, principal of Millburn High School in New Jersey and a 1978 Princeton University graduate.

The selection committee also considers recommendations from colleagues and students as well as evidence of the teachers’ accomplishments in the school and the community.

Princeton has honored secondary school teachers since 1959 after receiving an anonymous gift from an alumnus to establish the program.

“As a proud product of New Jersey public schools myself, I have always particularly valued that the University applauds superlative teachers like the ones who shaped my path,” Gordin said.