New Albany School Alum Named School's Top Educator

CINNAMINSON, NJ — When Jessica DeBarberie was a child, she roamed the halls of the New Albany School in Cinnaminson. Her father was a teacher, and as she got older, she began babysitting. She always enjoyed working with children.

“If you grow up around kids, it’s something that’s always in you,” she said. “It’s in your DNA.”

Barberie, whose 8-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter are now in the Cinnaminson Public School District, once again strolls the halls at New Albany, but now she does it as a Transitional First Grade Teacher. An award-winning First Grade Teacher at that.

DeBarberie is one of the district’s Governor's Educator of the Year and the Educational Services Professional award recipients. The program “highlights educational innovation, student achievement, the rewards of teaching, and important services outside the classroom environment that lead to student success,” according to the state’s website.

Each school in the district has a Teacher of the Year award winner. They will all attend a countywide recognition event in the spring, and will be honored at the May 12 Cinnaminson Board of Education meeting. Read more here: Cinnaminson Schools Announce Educators Of The Year

Next, each county will select a teacher of the year, with a state teacher of the year being named in the fall. Last year, Haddonfield’s Kimberly Dickstein was named the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year.

DeBarberie said she was shocked to have won the award at New Albany, saying she had a lot of support and a lot of people helped her get there.

“It’s an amazing honor for me,” DeBarberie said. “I’m surrounded by such an amazing group. Our support staff and our administrators did such a phenomenal job creating a supportive environment.”

She called the environment a team atmosphere, and said they all put a lot of time in helping the students and their colleagues. The reception she’s received from teachers and students alike amazes her.

“I’ve had kids come up to me and give me hugs. Some of them I know, some of them I don’t know,” DeBarberie said. “The other teachers have sent me messages that have brought tears to my eyes. They’ve said so many wonderful things.”

She’s been in the district for 19 years and taught in Pennsylvania two years before that. She said in all that time, she has never won anything like this, although she was recognized for her academic and athletic abilities in both high school and college.

“This shows me I’ve gone into the right profession,” DeBarberie said. “It makes me want to keep doing this.”