Ocean City Teacher Is Cape May County Teacher Of The Year

OCEAN CITY, NJ — An Ocean City teacher has been recognized as one of the 21 county teachers of the year throughout New Jersey, the Department of Education (NJDOE) announced on Thursday. Ocean City Primary School First Grade Teacher Carrie Merritt has been named as Cape May County’s Teacher of the Year for 2019, according to NJDOE.

Merritt was recognized during an awards ceremony at Jackson Memorial High School. She is now eligible for the state teacher of the year award. The winner will be announced at the State Board of Education's October meeting. The New Jersey State Teacher of the Year will compete for the National Teacher of the Year award.

“Receiving this award is truly meaningful to me. Teaching is not just a job. Teaching in an art,” Merritt said. “As teachers, we have a huge responsibility to nurture well rounded humans and grow productive, kind citizens. It is humbling to be selected as the Cape May County Teacher of the Year. For, it is me who actually learns and grows each day from my students, colleagues and administrators. I am proud to represent our great city of Ocean City.”

“We are all very excited for Carrie to receive this recognition. Her passion for education and love for her students that she demonstrates on a daily basis makes her the perfect recipient for Cape May County Teacher of the Year,” Ocean City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Taylor said. “Carrie has created a classroom where students not only learn, but truly enjoy doing so.”

“I am honored to recognize the 2018-2019 County Teachers of the Year,” Gov. Phil Murphy said. “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.”

“Our greatest resources in public education are our educators,” Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet said. “Here in New Jersey, we are blessed to have many brilliant educators, and these 21 who are being recognized as County Teachers of the Year are emblematic of the quality of instruction that we see throughout the Garden State.”

Individual schools are encouraged to identify educators for the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of their outstanding teachers. Teachers recognized as part of this program become eligible to compete to become teacher of the year in their respective counties.

Panels representing a cross-section of administrators, teachers, parents and members of county education associations select each County Teacher of the Year. A panel of educators then will select the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year based on written applications, video submissions and interviews with the County Teachers of the Year.

Merritt graduated with a business degree from the University of Connecticut, according to the Ocean City Public School District. Soon after graduating, she went back to school and attended Montclair State University for her teaching certificate, while also receiving her Master of Arts in Teaching — Early Childhood Education.

In 2006, Merritt accepted a position at Ocean City Primary School. She spent seven years as a kindergarten teacher before becoming a first-grade teacher. Merritt’s teaching style includes integrating health and wellness into the daily first grade curriculum and content. Her students are eager to learn, and she uses this opportunity to teach her students, while finding a way to “keep them on the move.”

Merritt said that this award will motivate her to continue to explore and investigate different teaching practices and will be a driving force in continuing to build, develop and grow her craft.

The attached image was provided by the Ocean City Public School District