Brick Chemistry Teacher Highlighted On Classroom Closeup

BRICK, NJ — Brick Memorial chemistry teacher Maria DeBruin, honored in 2017 by being selected as a Milken Educator of the Year, is being honored again, this time by her local peers.

DeBruin was recently featured in a segment of the NJEA Classroom Closeup titled "Magic of Science," which looked at her passion for teaching chemistry in particular, how she was inspired by her teacher-turned-administrator Walter Hrycenko, and how she is inspiring her students.

The Brick Township Education Association is set to fete her at a private event later in January.

DeBruin, who is the mastermind of the annual Science Night at Brick Memorial, a celebration of chemistry and science where the students create their own experiments to wow what's a standing-room-only audience, was one of 45 teachers nationwide chosen for the Milken award in 2017. It's often called the "Oscars of teaching," and DeBruin said it has opened so many more opportunities for her. Read more: Brick Memorial Teacher Receives National Milken Educator Award

"The day they announced the Milken award was the most unbelievable day of my life," she says in the Classroom Closeup episode. You can watch it below.

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Photo by Karen Wall, Patch staff