Manchester Teacher Named Ocean County Teacher Of The Year For 2017-18

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Manchester Township High School teacher has been named the Ocean County Teacher of the Year for the 2017-18 school year, the New Jersey Department of Education announced Tuesday.

Christine Newbury is a science and special education teacher at the high school. She was selected at the high school teacher of the year and honored at the May Board of Education meeting along with the district's other teachers and education service professionals.

"We are very proud to have Christine represent our district and Ocean County as the county Teacher of the Year," Manchester Superintendent David Trethaway said. "Christine possesses all of the qualities of an outstanding teacher but the two qualities that stand out are her passion for her students and her willingness to continually look to improve by challenging herself to find new and innovative instructional methods to provide the best education for all of her students."

Newbury has an outstanding rapport with students and staff, and cultivates a vibrant learning environment for her students, Manchester Principal Dennis Adams said. "(She) exemplifies everything that is right with education, bringing passion to her classroom and the motivation to connect with students and share her enthusiasm for learning with them."

"She possesses an uncanny ability to captivate students into wanting to learn for her," Adams said.

Newbury chairs the school's technology team and is a class adviser and the Drama Club directo.

County Teachers of the Year are recognized for valuable contributions to their local school communities and are given the opportunity to serve as ambassadors of education to officials at the county and state levels, state officials said.

“I am thrilled to be able to honor our amazing County Teachers of the Year for 2017-18, and express my appreciation for the work they do for their students,” said Education Commissioner Kimberley Harrington. “New Jersey has many great teachers, and this award is a tribute to the talent, professionalism, and dedication of these 21 educators to inspire the children they teach."

The teachers honored get to network with educators throughout the state and county, and are invited to serve on state committees and task forces to share their own experiences and points of view at the state level.

County teachers of the year are selected by panels of administrators, teachers, parents, and county education association representatives.

A state-level panel of educators will select New Jersey's State Teacher of the Year based on a written application, video submission, and interviews with the top finalists. The State Teacher of the Year will be announced at the State Board of Education's October meeting, and he or she will go on to represent New Jersey at the National Teacher of the Year competition, state officials said.

"We are fortunate to have an excellent staff in the Manchester Township School District and Christine is a great example of what it takes to be an outstanding educator," Trethaway said.

Christine Newbury receives her award as Ocean County Teacher of the Year. From left, Kimberley Harrington, State Commissioner of Education; Manchester Superintendent David Trethaway; Manchester High School Principal Dennis Adams; Newbury; Interim Executive Ocean County Superintendent Judith DeStefano-Anen, and Brendan O’Reilly, the Ocean County Education Specialist. Photos courtesy of Manchester Township Schools