HILLSDALE, N.J.—A social studies teacher at Pascack Valley High School was selected Aug. 14 as 2019 County Teacher of the Year for Bergen County by the state Department of Education.
Leah Jerome, who teaches 11th and 12th grade social studies, was honored as the County Teacher of the Year in a ceremony at Jackson Township’s Liberty High School, where all 21 county teachers of the year received their proclamations.
The annual state contest allows the County Teacher of the Year winners to compete for a New Jersey State Teacher of the Year honor to be announced by the State Board of Education in October.
That winner then represents New Jersey competing for National Teacher of the Year.
At the ceremony in Jackson, Jerome was joined by colleague and music teacher Argine Safari, a previous County Teacher of the Year winner, Pascack Valley High Principal Thomas DeMaio and Superintendent of Schools P. Erik Gundersen.
“Being named the Bergen County Teacher of the Year is a tremendous honor. It is an honor that I think is not only a reflection of me but of Pascack Valley High School, and that is something that makes me very proud,” Jerome said after the award ceremony.
She said Joe Orlak, DeMaio, Gundersen, and Barry Bachenheimer have all encouraged her to grow as an educator since she started at Pascack Valley in 2011.
“They have always encouraged me to be creative and seek new opportunities. I have had the three best mentors and role models a history teacher could ask for in Karen Kosch, Ken Sarajian, and Jeff Jasper. I have also had a great mentor in Argine Safari who has demonstrated to me what it means to be a teacher leader,” Jerome said.
“I am surrounded by a wonderful department of history teachers with whom I am proud to associate. The community of incredible and dedicated educators in our district makes Pascack Valley an ideal place to grow as a teacher,” she added.
Jerome said, “The common denominator of any success I have had over the years is that I have the privilege of working with the amazing, compassionate, and talented students of Pascack Valley High School. I see this award as a call to action. I believe that in receiving this award I must now work to earn the title every day to represent Pascack Valley and Bergen County.”
Jerome holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies and master’s in teaching social studies from Fordham University. She also holds a master’s in arts and letters from Drew University.
Other credentials include certification in Holocaust and genocide studies from College of St. Elizabeth.
She was 2018–2019 New Jersey Council for Social Studies Secondary Teacher of the Year and 2013 recipient of the James Madison Fellowship. Over a decade as an educator she has also served as a coach and a club advisor.
Gov. Phil Murphy said Aug. 14, “It is with great pride that I recognize these highly skilled, compassionate and dedicated County Teachers of the Year.”
That was echoed by Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet in a statement.
“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,” Repollet said.
“The teachers who we recognize today instruct, inform, and inspire children to achieve success in school and beyond,” he added.
In addition to teaching social studies, Jerome is an adviser to the Asian Culture Club and National History Day, as well as an adviser to One Spirit, a service club that visits South Dakota’s Cheyenne River Reservation and assists American Indian students.
Murphy tweeted “the hard work and dedication of New Jersey’s teachers help make our public education system one of the best in the nation. Join me in celebrating our highly skilled, compassionate, and dedicated New Jersey DOE 2019–2020 County Teachers of the Year.”
Gundersen tweeted the same day, “Pascack is so proud of you!!!”
DeMaio offered his congratulations and tweeted a picture of a poster featured at the award ceremony, which showed Jerome’s picture and offered her philosophy of teaching.
“I teach because I want to make a difference in the lives of young people and because I want to make an impact on the future. Through education, I feel as if I can play a part in helping to mold a more inclusive society,” the quote from Jerome read.
Teachers of the Year “will network with educators throughout the state and serve as ambassadors for New Jersey’s public schools,” said a DOE press statement announcing the winners.
The program promotes a positive school culture by acknowledging the hard work and dedication of outstanding teachers. Schools are encouraged to nominate exceptional educators with diverse backgrounds to ensure that the honorees represent the ethnic/racial diversity of New Jersey, NJDOE said.
