East Orange Educator Honored As ‘Teacher Of Year’ In Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — For the first time since the 1990s, the state’s “teacher of the year” in Essex County hails from East Orange.

On Wednesday, state officials held a virtual awards ceremony to honor the 2021-2022 County Teachers of the Year as part of the Governor’s Educator of the Year program. This year, Theresa Maughan, a social studies teacher in East Orange, took home the honors in Essex County.

Here’s what award organizers said about Maughan, who works at East Orange STEM Academy:

"Theresa Maughan earned a bachelor’s degree in history and education from Rutgers University, a master’s degree in administration and supervision from New Jersey City University, and is completing a second master’s degree in American history from Pace University. Her educational background is indicative of her commitment to a growth mindset. Theresa’s mission of learning something new each day is transferred to her students via her love of knowledge and research. She believes this is the key that enhances her ability to design and implement lessons that are infused with different perspectives on history."

State officials continued:

"It has been Theresa’s mission to shatter the stereotype that students enrolled in urban school districts are often perceived as less able to compete academically again students from other district by encouraging her students to participate in a host of local, statewide and national contests. In each of these contests, her students succeeded as a finalist or winner. In addition to empowering her students to engage in civic and history-based academic contests, Theresa demonstrates her dedication as an educator and lifelong learner by attending professional development workshops, and connecting with scholars, parents and the East Orange community."

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