Somerset County Teacher Of The Year Helps Kids With Autism

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — An educator in Hillsborough has been recognized as one of the state's 2018-19 County Teachers of the Year.

Earlier this month, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) named Viktoria Wargo, a kindergarten special education teacher at Triangle Elementary School in Hillsborough, as its Somerset County Teacher of the Year.

"My classroom is my second home," Wargo said in a video interview with NJDOE. "It's a kindergarten self-contained autism class, it has 6 students."

Wargo holds a Master's Degree in Special Education from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Allentown College of Saint Francis DeSales. She has taught in the elementary self-contained autism program in Hillsborough Township for 11 years, and is a certified Crisis Prevention Institute instructor for the district, according to NJDOE.

Wargo taught and served as the Behavior Specialist for seven years at The Eden Institute. She has volunteered with Special Olympics, Tim Tebow's Night to Shine, and Autism New Jersey.

In 2012, Wargo directed the documentary, "Touched by Autism". She has done presentations for the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs, Princeton University, The Eden Institute, and her school district. Wargo was named the 2013 Somerset County Women of the Year for the field of education and in 2003 won the Kristen Ann Culley Award for Faculty Excellence at the Eden Institute, according to NJDOE.

"My classroom, we work so hard, we do cry, students sometimes cry, but we laugh we have a good time, we have fun. I make sure we are always connected," Wargo said in the video.

“I am honored to recognize the 2018-2019 County Teachers of the Year,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “These 21 educators exemplify the outstanding level of talent and commitment that exists in New Jersey’s public schools. Their hard work and dedication is a critical part of making our state’s public education system one of the best in the country and creating a life-long love of learning for New Jersey’s students.”

(Image and video via nj.gov)

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