Kovach: First Day Back 'Phenomenal'

Danielle Kovach came home Tuesday.

The returned to her third-grade special-education classroom after a six-month sabbatical during which , spoke to countless college students and collaborated with state education officials.

Kovach said she felt at ease on her first day back.

"It was great," the 12-year teacher said. "I had a phenomenal experience as Teacher of the Year. Everyone I've met, everyone I've seen. But being back in Hopatcong is where I belong. I'm so excited to be back."

Kovach will hold the top teacher title until Oct. 5 when she will pass it along to the next educator. The teacher became Hopatcong's first state teacher of the year last October after taking district and county crowns.

Kovach said the best part of her sabbatical—aside from meeting Obama—was witnessing the work of teachers throughout the state.

"The biggest thing for me was just being able to travel," she said. "I've been to the top of New Jersey to the bottom and I've met teachers from all across our state. And the greatest experience was just meeting all of the teachers and seeing all of the awesome things teachers do. I really, truly wish people could see what I saw. To see their dedication and phenomenal things teachers are doing in their classrooms, their love and passion for teaching."

Kovach said though schools have come under attack from Gov. Chris Christie and other over the last year, "one bad apple doesn't ruin the batch."

"Not everyone's perfect and not all teachers are perfect," she said. "That's how it is at a lot of jobs. But I just wish others could have seen what I saw."

Kovach was the keynote speaker during a presentation on Hopatcong's first teacher-in-service day on Thursday. She said while she was initially nervous about the speech, the teachers in the district embraced her and even presented her with a picture frame.

"That was very nice," she said. "I was touched to get that gift from them."

Kovach said she spent about the last month planning for the upcoming year at Tulsa Trail school. She said her classroom's theme this year is called "A Universe of Possibilities," and focuses a lot on what she learned during her trip to Space Camp.

Kovach along with four other teachers in August. The award also netted Tulsa Trail $650 and free digital arts training for teachers and students. The honor gives Kovach chance at the NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence, which includes a $25,000 prize for the winner.

“Danielle has distinguished herself as an outstanding teacher from Hopatcong,” school Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano said in a release after Kovach won the award. “She exemplifies the characteristics of many of her fellow teachers and has brought national recognition to Hopatcong Schools. Danielle is an example of an outstanding young and energetic generation of educators who are working very hard to put the academic, developmental, and social needs of children first.”

Kovach said she didn't feel rusty after her break and the first day of class went smoothly.

"There was nothing unnatural about it," she said. "It felt like the first day of school where you get your first-day-of-school jitters, where you're excited to be back. Everything went smoothly.

"Overall, it was a phenomenal day for me to be back in Hopatcong."