Somerset County Teacher Of The Year Awarded To Hillsborough Educator

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — A Hillsborough educator has been recognized as one of the state's 2022-23 County Teachers of the Year.

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) named Ian Evans, a Hillsborough Middle School seventh-grade Literacy teacher, as the Somerset County Teacher of the Year.

Evans thanked his wife, colleagues and most importantly his students.

"Students who show up eager to learn. Show up as their authentic selves. Show up just ready to participate in that teaching process. You're really why I teach and who I do this for. So thank you so much," Evans said during the NJDOE virtual pre-recorded awards ceremony on Thursday. (Evans' award presentation and video begins around the timestamp of one hour and five minutes.)

Evans was also recently honored by the township committee for being named as among the 2021-2022 Governor's Educator of the Year Award winners. Read More: 5 Hillsborough Teachers Honored As Governor's Educators Of The Year

Evans was also the 2021-2022 Hillsborough Middle School Teacher of the Year.

A graduate of Rutgers University with his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English and secondary education, Evans has taught at HMS for the past 10 years.

"Throughout that time, Evans instructional leadership and personal impact on his students has been widely recognized by his colleagues, parents and students as he has been a mentor to both students and new teachers alike," according to the school district.

Evans, along with his colleagues, founded two new clubs at HMS: the Writer’s House to encourage young authors and poets and promote the sharing of creative writing in the school and HMS CARES, an extension of BoroCARES which is a community-based "Coalition for AntiRacist and Equitable Schools."

In 2021, Evans was a co-presenter at the NJ State Equity Conference speaking about the work he and his colleagues at HMS have done to advance social justice, equity and inclusive learning environments in our school for the benefit of all students.

"Please join Hillsborough Township Public Schools in celebrating this tremendous achievement
and honor with Ian Evans! We are so proud of the difference Ian makes and appreciative of the
fact that he is recognized for his excellence at the state level," according to the district.

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