Brick Man Named Ocean County Teacher Of The Year

BRICK, NJ — A Brick Township man who teaches at Southern Regional Middle School has been named the 2018-19 Ocean County Teacher of the Year.

William Smith, who teaches social studies at the middle school in Manahawkin, was among the 21 teachers honored last week when the state Department of Education announced the County Teachers of the Year in an awards ceremony at Jackson Memorial High School.

Smith said the honor is a tribute to the support he receives at Southern Regional, where he has been teaching for five years.

"This was my dream job," said Smith, who teaches world history and current events to his seventh-grade students and early American history to his eighth-graders. In addition, Smith is the adviser of the school's History Buffs club and the founder and adviser for the Debate Club, for students interested in parliamentary procedure, debating and public speaking. "There's some overlap between the two," he said, with some of the students who are interested in history also expressing an interest in politics.

Smith also serves as an adviser/supervisor for the school's afterschool intramural sports program, which gives students who don't have the time to commit to the school's varsity sports an opportunity to keep playing.

"(Southern) started it a few years ago," said Smith, who graduated from the Hamilton Township Schools and taught high school in Burlington Township before joining the staff at Southern in 2013. "The school and the administration believe when kids are in afterschool activities they do better in school."

"These 21 educators exemplify the outstanding level of talent and commitment that exists in New Jersey’s public schools," Gov. Phil Murphy said when the awards were announced. "Their hard work and dedication is a critical part of making our state’s public education system one of the best in the country and creating a life-long love of learning for New Jersey’s students."

"Our greatest resources in public education are our educators," Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet said. "Here in New Jersey, we are blessed to have many brilliant educators, and these 21 who are being recognized as County Teachers of the Year are emblematic of the quality of instruction that we see throughout the Garden State."

Teachers recognized as part of the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program will network with educators throughout the state and serve as ambassadors for New Jersey’s public schools. A panel of educators then will select the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year based on written applications, video submissions and interviews with the County Teachers of the Year. The State Teacher of the Year is expected to be announced at the State Board of Education's October meeting, and will go on to represent New Jersey in competing for the title of National Teacher of the Year.

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Photo provided by William Smith