Union County Teacher Of The Year Awarded To Roselle Park Educator

ROSELLE PARK, NJ — A Roselle Park educator has been recognized as one of the state's 2025-26 County Teachers of the Year.

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) named Karen Carey-Lynch, who is an English Language Arts and Gifted Education Teacher at Roselle Park Middle School in the Roselle Park School District, as the Union County Teacher of the Year.

Carey-Lynch and the other 20 educators were recognized at an awards ceremony on Tuesday at The College of New Jersey in Ewing.

"Great teachers make for great schools, and New Jersey is home to the best public school system in the nation," said Governor Phil Murphy. "I applaud this year’s 21 County Teachers of the Year for their hard work and dedication to uplift young learners across our state. These awardees exemplify the very best our schools have to offer, and I am immensely grateful for the contributions of these exceptional educators to our school communities."

Carey-Lynch earned her bachelor’s degree in general science and her master’s degree in education from Dowling College.

She has dedicated morethan 30 years to education, joining Roselle Park Public Schools in 2003 as an English language arts teacher. Carey-Lynch is certified in Gifted and Talented education and currently teaches both English language arts and gifted education classes.

To stay current with teaching methodologies, Carey-Lynch actively engages in professional development and incorporates STEAM and project-based learning into her curriculum.

She recently rewrote the gifted and talented curriculum and serves as advisor for the National Junior Honor Society.

"Her community service initiatives strengthen school-community ties and model good citizenship for students. Karen continuously enhances her skills through postgraduate coursework and is deeply committed to professional growth. Her dedication extends beyond academics, as she prepares students for future challenges and instills values of good citizenship," according to the NJDOE.

"Karen believes that exceptional educators prioritize care and respect for their students, fostering meaningful connections and trust before engaging in academic content. She adapts her teaching strategies to accommodate the diverse needs of her students, creating a supportive environment where they can celebrate successes and learn from setbacks. Her approach serves as an inspiration to fellow educators aiming to make a lasting impact on their students’ lives," according to the NJDOE.

Each school selects Teachers of the Year, who are then eligible to apply for County Teacher of the Year through the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program.

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.

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 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year will go on to represent New Jersey in competing for the title of National Teacher of the Year.

"The County Teachers of the Year celebrate the kind of dynamic and innovative instruction that we see in classrooms in school districts across New Jersey," Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer said. "By recognizing these outstanding 21 County Teachers of the Year, we not only show appreciation for their exemplary dedication and contributions, but we elevate the hard work and dedication of the entire teaching profession. These County Teachers of the Year serve as an inspiration to a new generation of young minds who, one day, might explore a career in education themselves."

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