Ocean City Third-Grade Teacher Named County Teacher of the Year

Ocean City, NJ -- A third-grade teacher at the Ocean City Primary School has been named the Cape May County Teacher of the Year, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) announced on Wednesday.

Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Libro was named the top teacher in the county. The teacher of the year in each of the 21 counties are now eligible for the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year award. Selection is based on a written application, video submission, and interviews with the top five finalists. The winner will be announced in October, and will represent New Jersey in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

“Mrs. Libro is dynamic, dedicated, enthusiastic, compassionate, talented, fair-minded, a hard worker, and always keeps what is best for students in front of her,” Ocean City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Taylor said in response to an emailed request for comment from Ocean City Patch. “These are just some of the qualities that Mrs. Libro has shown since starting in our district nine years ago.”

From 2007-2013, Libro was a first-grade teacher at the school, and before that, taught in Delaware for three years, as a fourth-grade and a fifth-grade teacher, according to the school district’s website.

She is a 2000 graduate of St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington, Delaware. She has a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies and a minor in Early Education from James Madison University and a Masters Degree in Elementary and Secondary Guidance Counseling from Wilmington University. She is currently enrolled in online courses with Chapman University and Loyola Marymount in pursuit of her Masters Plus.

“Mrs. Libro's talents also include taking an ordinary lesson plan and weaving many different instructional components to engage all of her students,” Taylor said. “Mrs. Libro also shows her students that she cares and is supportive when answering all of the inquisitive questions of 7 and 8 year olds. Mrs. Libro clearly remembers that although she teaches a multitude of subjects, she is teaching children whom she freely offers kindness and acceptance.”

She is married, with twins Anthony and Mary Jo.

“As the County Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Libro is perfect example of a teacher who strives for excellence by challenging each of her students to think, to problem-solve, and to achieve,” Taylor said. “Mrs. Libro gives her absolute best to her students every day and they do their best for their favorite teacher.”