Who Did The State Pick As Bergen County's Best Teacher?

HILLSDALE, NJ – A Pascack Valley High School teacher has been named one of the best educators in New Jersey.

Leah Jerome, an 11th and 12th grade social studies teacher, is among the 21 finalists announced Wednesday by the state Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year award.

Jerome was picked as the 2018-19 New Jersey Council for Social Studies Teacher of the Year.

"She has a passion for experiential history and has been the leader on various projects to bring students outside the classroom. Leah has taken students overseas on history-themed excursions to places like Poland, China, and Peru. She is an energetic educator who garners top Advanced Placement scores from her students. In 2016 Jerome visited the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota and spent time learning from the people of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. She has since collaborated with a colleague to begin a Native American history and advocacy group at Pascack Valley called One Spirit. Every summer the group embarks on a trip to South Dakota to enhance their learning of Native American culture. Teaching for Leah is a lifelong vocation, her calling," according to a biography posted on the state department of education website.

One teacher from each of the state’s 21 counties was selected by groups of educators, administrators and parents and a winner of the state award will be announced in October.

A panel will pick the winner based on a video submission, written application and interviews with finalists.

Gov. Phil Murphy said, “These teachers reflect the exemplary quality of educational leadership that we see throughout our state.”

“New Jersey’s educators are among the best in this country, as evidenced by the success of our students,” said state Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet. “The teachers who we recognize today instruct, inform, and inspire children to achieve success in school and beyond.”