HCVSD Names Natalie Guarino Educator of the Year

Flemington, N.J. – The Hunterdon County Vocational School District (HCVSD) congratulates Natalie Guarino of Phillipsburg, N.J., as its Governor’s Educator of the Year. Guarino teaches students in the Early Childhood Education and Teacher Academy programs at the district’s Polytech Career and Technical School. She also advises students in the school’s chapter of the Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), whose members have an impressive record of competing and earning gold at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference.

Guarino was nominated by her peers and selected by HCVSD’s Governor's Educator of the Year Committee. She will now submit an application for consideration as the Hunterdon County Teacher of the Year.

“Natalie is an exceptional role model for today's students who are planning to become future teachers. She provides the very best opportunities for her students to learn about the rewards and challenges of the teaching profession,” said Laurence R. Fieber, executive director of the Center for Future Educators at the College of New Jersey and a member of the Early Education and Teacher Academy Advisory Committee at Hunterdon County Polytech. “It has been my privilege to work with Natalie over these many years, and I appreciate everything she has done to inspire the next generation of teachers. She is most deserving as the 2018-19 Educator of the Year.”

Since 2006, Guarino has worked at Hunterdon County Polytech training high school students to become early educators. She previously taught preschool and kindergarten in the HCVSD. She began her career as a pre-kindergarten teacher at the Growing Tree Learning Center in Bedminster, N.J.

"It is my absolute honor to receive Educator of the Year for 2018-2019, and I am truly humbled to accept this award from Hunterdon County Polytech's faculty and administration,” said Guarino. “I thoroughly enjoy working with my students every day and inspiring their interest in teaching. Teaching has always been my passion, and I am more than grateful to be able to share that passion with others."

Guarino also earned HCVSD’s Educator of the Year award in 2011-2012, and she has received numerous recognitions from FCCLA throughout her tenure with the district. Most recently, she earned the 2016 Outstanding Adviser Memorial Award of the Year from the New Jersey FCCLA.

Guarino earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and her elementary teacher certification from Kean University. She is also a certified teacher of human development and child care services and is a member of the Psi Chi National Psychology Honor Society and the National Association for Young Children.

Hunterdon County Polytech Career and Technical School is the largest component of Hunterdon County Vocational School District (HCVSD). Polytech is the district’s shared-time high school that prepares students for a seamless transition to college and career paths. HCVSD also operates an Adult and Continuing Education school and three science-based high school academies: the Biomedical Sciences Academy, the Computer Science and Applied Engineering Academy and the Environmental Sustainability and Engineering Academy. Learn more at www.hcvsd.org.

Photo Captions

Teacher Academy: Natalie Guarino, Hunterdon County Vocational School District’s Educator of the Year, works with one of her students enrolled in Polytech’s Teacher Academy. Guarino teaches students in Hunterdon County Polytech’s Teacher Academy and Early Childhood Education programs.

Early Childhood: Natalie Guarino, Hunterdon County Vocational School District’s Educator of the Year, works with her students in Polytech’s Early Childhood Education program. Guarino teaches students in Hunterdon County Polytech’s Early Childhood Education and Teacher Academy programs.

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