Accolades Continue For Highly Decorated Teacher In The Oranges

EAST ORANGE, NJ — Theresa Maughan, a social studies educator at East Orange STEM Academy, was one of just five educators in the nation to earn a prestigious award this year: the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence.

The NEA Foundation recently announced that Maughan and four of her peers have captured one of public education’s highest honors. The award – sponsored by the Horace Mann Educators Foundation – recognizes educators for their “exceptional skill in the classroom, attention to equity and diversity, engagement of families and communities, commitment to ongoing professional development, and advocacy for the profession.”

Maughan was nominated by the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), which had high praise for the state’s 2021-2022 “teacher of the year” winner. Learn more about her background and achievements here.

• See related article: New Jersey's 'Teacher Of The Year' Was Almost Deported

NJEA President Sean Spiller, Vice President Steve Beatty and Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson celebrated Maughan for earning one of this year’s five awards. They wrote:

“We are so proud to have Theresa Maughan as a representative of New Jersey’s educators. Her talent, passion and dedication earned her this honor. We join all New Jersey educators in congratulating Theresa and thanking her for her service to our students and our profession. We also celebrate our colleagues across the state who may not have been recognized in this way, but who demonstrate excellence in their work every day. New Jersey educators deserve great respect and appreciation for keeping our schools the best in the nation, particularly during the incredible challenges of the last three years.”

The other four awardees are:

• Stephanie Ballard, a math educator at George S. Mickelson Middle School, nominated by the South Dakota Education Association
• Kevin Gallagher, a math and computer science educator at Keystone Oaks High School, nominated by the Pennsylvania State Education Association
• Natalie Johnson-Berry, dean of students and a restorative justice facilitator at Wyandotte High School, nominated by the Kansas National Education Association
• Lee Perez, an English as a second language (ESL) educator at Alice Buffet Magnet Middle School, nominated by the Nebraska State Education Association

Maughan and her fellow awardees will be recognized on May 5 at the NEA Foundation Salute to Excellence in Education Gala, where each will receive a $10,000 award.

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