5 Hillsborough Teachers Honored As Governor's Educators Of The Year

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Five Hillsborough teachers were recently honored for their hard work and service by the Township Committee.

Mayor Shawn Lipani read proclamations honoring each of the educators for being named as the 2021-2022 Governor's Educator of the Year Award winners at the May 24 meeting for their dedication and service.

Jessica Banas, D'Anna Barbaro, Erin Chung, Ian Evans, and Joan Murphy were all honored by Hillsborough Township.

Banas has taught special education for the past four years in learning and language disability LLD at Auten Road Intermediate School.

She also serves as a drama club advisor, taught at the local ESY program, and is a literacy tutor.

"I've been a teacher for 9 years and I have spent all of those 9 years in Hillsborough … I feel so fortunate to work with such phenomenal people," said Banas.

Barbaro is a professional at Hillsborough Elementary School where she works in case management for the self-contained behavioral disability program that provides counseling, and social skill groups for high-needs students.

She is also a member of the intervention and referral committee.

Chung is a special education teacher at Hillsborough Elementary School where she helped start the 'I Run Club'. She has a Master's degree in special education and is on the sunshine and character education committee. She also is a CCD teacher at St. Joseph’s Church.

Chung is also Murphy's daughter who was also awarded. Chung said she graduated from Hillsborough High School and it is where she met her husband.

Evans, a seventh-grade literacy teacher at Hillsborough Middle School has been teaching for 10 years.

He is a co-advisor of the anti-racist equitable club that promotes justice, equity, and inclusion in school and in the community.

“Pretty much anyone can be teacher of the year here in Hillsborough because we have so many great teachers. And it's all the teachers here that inspire me to do my best every day," said Evans.

Murphy is a fifth-grade learning and disability LLD teacher at Auten Road Intermediate School where she has been teaching for 14 years.

She is also part of the pride committee for the Hillsborough Education Association and a union representative. She is also a lector and CCD teacher at St. Joseph’s Church.

"The biggest honor is I got [the award] with my co-teacher who I adore and my daughter this year," said Murphy.

Both of Murphy's children have been through the Hillsborough school system and are both teachers.

"We are a family of teachers and this is a great place to live. We are so glad we are here," said Murphy.

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