Spanish Teacher Named Passaic County's 'Teacher Of The Year'

HALEDON, NJ — A high school Spanish teacher in Passaic County is among the top of the class, as the state Department of Education announced the 2024/25 County Teachers of the Year.

Bernadette Orsita was nominated by her fellow educators at Manchester Regional High School in Haledon — becoming the first teacher from the district to ever win this annual award. She was recognized alongside 20 other educators on Tuesday, during an awards ceremony held at The College of New Jersey in Ewing.

Calling her the "pillar of our school," leaders at the Manchester Regional High School District said that Orsita "not only embodies what it means to be an educator in every way but truly loves each and every child that walks through our halls as her own." She is a graduate of William Paterson High School, and has taught Spanish at Manchester Regional since 2008.

"(Orsita) is someone you can rely on not just as a professional but as an amazing person who would do anything to help you," school officials said in a message to the community. "She enhances our world language classrooms with her excellent lessons and honors all of our families with her greater school programming such as the annual Multi-Cultural Fair."

In order to decide the County Teachers of the Year, individual schools select Teachers of the Year, who then become eligible to apply for County Teacher of the Year through the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program, as the New Jersey Department of Education explained.

In the nomination, Orsita's colleagues said that she "has a unique ability to involve the community in her lessons and bring that into the classroom to engage her students on a deeper level."

Nominators also highlighted the number of programs that Orsita has spearheaded at the high school — including the Make a Difference Club, Camp Manchester Regional High School, Camp Students Overcoming Substance Abuse (SOSA), the Hispanic Fair, and a high school fashion show "which promotes inclusivity of all people with all abilities."

"She prides herself on creating, nurturing, and maintaining long-lasting relationships with her students," the nomination reads. "Bernadette’s students gain a profound sense of pride in themselves and their finished products. She truly believes that education is so much more than the content she teaches."

The County Teachers of the Year will network with colleagues throughout the state and serve as representatives for New Jersey’s public schools during the upcoming school year, according to officials.

A panel of educators will select the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year from among the 21 County Teachers of the Year based on written applications, video submissions and interviews with the top finalists.

“The dynamic educators that we recognize today serve as ambassadors of the profession,” Acting Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer said. “When we highlight the great efforts from our 21 County Teachers of the Year, we shine a spotlight not only on the accomplishments of these teachers, but also on all of the schools and districts that support these remarkable educators to show why New Jersey schools lead the nation."

To view a full list of the New Jersey County Teachers of the Year, you can visit the NJ Department of Education website.