Lana Shanahan named HCVSD's Teacher of the Year

Hunterdon County Vocational School District (HCVSD) has recognized an extraordinary member of its school community as the 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year. Lana Shanahan, of Washington, N.J., is both the district’s healthcare science/pre-nursing instructor for shared-time high school students and the school nurse on its Bartles Campus.

Tanya Nalesnik, HCVSD’s director of grants management, admissions and security, as well as supervisor of the Bartles Campus, said that Shanahan’s teachings extend beyond the classroom to reach staff and administration. She praised her colleague’s abilities to advise, lead and support the school community on various fronts. “In addition to her full academic schedule, Mrs. Shanahan is the building level nurse on our Bartles Campus and is responsible for more than 200 students on a daily basis. She has directly contributed to the district’s health and professional development by providing First Aid and CPR, EpiPen and Stop the Bleed training for HCVSD’s entire staff. She is also the adjunct professor for many of the college level courses offered in her programs and ensures her students have access to early college credits and a deeper understanding of college rigor.”

Teaching is a fairly new career for Shanahan. After spending 25 years as a dietician and certified diabetes instructor and working in public health and hospitals in North Carolina, New York and New Jersey, she returned to school to become a registered nurse. She spent 18 years in rehabilitation, sub-acute care and long-term care, including as an assistant director of nursing specializing in infection control and staff education. She joined HCVSD in 2019 as the allied health instructor at Polytech Career & Technical School, but her past professional experience made her an ideal candidate to step into the pre-nursing instructor role.

“Teaching is something I’ve always wanted to do, but just never pursued,” said Shanahan. “One of my favorite parts of my nursing career was staff education. I liked to be a part of others’ learning experiences. Now, I love teaching high school because my students are just starting out, fresh and excited to become health professionals.”

Nalesnik and many others throughout the district praised Shanahan for maintaining dual roles during the pandemic, which has drastically changed the way both teachers and health care workers perform their roles and responsibilities. “Mrs. Shanahan not only maintained a high-level of academic integrity, but also established herself as a leader among her peers by providing assurance and support for those who expressed fatigue and anxiety surrounding the continued disruptions both personally and professionally from COVID,” said Nalesnik.

The school’s graphic design instructor, Cynthia Dailey, added, “Lana has shown incredible professionalism and kindness during a very difficult couple of years. She cares deeply for the wellbeing of her students and fellow colleagues. She takes on tasks on top of her already hectic duties with a cheerful ‘no problem’ attitude. I have always been impressed with her ability to handle anything that comes her way.”

While Shanahan’s impact reaches far beyond the classroom, it’s the students who benefit the most from her commitment; they recognize her as a leader and role model as well as a “class mom.”

“I’m always excited to go to class, not only because we have an opportunity to learn things we’re invested in, but because Mrs. Shanahan is the best teacher,” said nursing student Molly Nemeth, a senior. “She is always positive and willing to help us even with problems that aren’t related to school. She’s kind of the class mom. She wants us all to succeed.”

Nursing student Anna Murray, also a senior, added, “Sometimes I feel like I can almost be a nurse just because of her stories and the lessons she has taught us. She’s had so much experience in this field and gives us the information we need to be prepared. Thanks to her, I have so much more confidence to begin a career as a nurse.”

Shanahan feels fulfilled and overjoyed to have found her home in education at Hunterdon County Polytech. “I love being able to encourage students to follow their career aspirations in healthcare. Our day-to-day interactions are especially rewarding because they are so eager to learn. I enjoy teaching them nursing skills, but I also hope to teach them how to be more resilient in life.”

Hunterdon County Polytech Career & Technical High 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 & Continuing Education school and three science-based high school academies: the Biomedical Sciences Academy, the Computer Science & Applied Engineering Academy and the Environmental Sustainability & Engineering Academy. Learn more at www.hcvsd.org.

All pupils will be given equal opportunity for enrollment in programs operated by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status (34 C.F.R. Part 100, Appendix B, Section IV-A). No qualified handicapped person shall, on the basis of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity which receives federal financial assistance, et seq (34 C.F.R. Part 104.4(a)(b).