Newark's Teacher Of Year Gets Award, Surprise Classroom Visit

Newark, NJ – One of Newark’s best teachers has gotten a well-deserved nod of appreciation.

On Thursday, the Newark Public School District honored Whitney Farrand as “Newark Teacher of the Year.”

Several district administrators paid Farrand a surprise visit at her classroom at Mount Vernon School, presenting her with an award for her “exceptional teaching abilities and the impact she has had on her students,” according to a school news release.

Farrand was chosen from a pool of approximately 30 finalists who were each nominated by their school principal, district officials stated.

“I could not be happier to present this award to Ms. Farrand,” Superintendent Christopher Cerf said. “She exemplifies the qualities of a great educator. In addition to her skill as a classroom teacher and the great results she achieves with her students, she spends countless hours after school and on weekends to mentor them in her role as their debate coach, truly embodying what Newark educators are all about.”

According to school administrators, Farrand - an eighth grade math teacher – “focuses on creating a positive learning environment that fosters collaboration, conversation and individualized learning.”

Farrand also dedicates her own time after school each week to ensure her students are able to participate in extra-curricular activities like the Mount Vernon Debate Team, which is ranked as one of the top teams in all of Newark Public Schools, administrators said.

“[Farrand] has done a tremendous job with her students over the years and is a very important member of our school community,” said Bertha Dyer, principal of Mount Vernon School. “Her tireless dedication to the students and families we serve speaks volumes about the high-quality educator that she is.”

According to a district news release:

“Ms. Farrand began teaching at Mount Vernon nine years ago and did so as a part of a family tradition. Her mother, Vernell Farrand, worked as a teacher, staff developer and school administrator at NPS, and her father, Brent Farrand, was also a mathematics resource teacher and coordinator at NPS. In addition, Brent Farrand founded the Jersey Urban Debate League, currently known as the Newark Debate Academy, where Ms. Farrand works as a high school coordinator outside of her work at Mount Vernon School.”

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Photo courtesy of Newark Public Schools