Success Stories of Montclair’s Top Teacher Education Graduates

Since 1985, the Presidents of New Jersey’s teacher training institutions have nominated their three most outstanding prospective teachers for the yearly New Jersey Distinguished Clinical Intern & Cooperating Teacher Awards.

Montclair Alumni Andrew Bishop, Jayda Dizon, and Michelle Guerra were awarded the honor. Guerra and Bishop both received an additional distinction at the state-wide award ceremony held on June 3rd. All three alumni will be teaching in New Jersey for the 2025-2026 school year.

Middle School Mindfulness

To better engage students during the start of the school day as a social studies student teacher at Buzz Aldrin Middle School in Montclair, Andrew Bishop led a presentation on social-emotional learning techniques he learned in the Teacher Education Program.

“I put myself in my students’ shoes. It was early, they were tired, and they had a full day of school ahead of them. While reviewing my notes from my time in the Teacher Education Program, I came across a lesson on Social Emotional Learning, and it reminded me of an activity from my own K-12 education: Mindful Moments,” Bishop shared.

He developed his version of “Mindful Moments,” and every day, after reviewing homework and completing warm-ups with his students, he took three minutes to shut off the lights, let the students rest their heads, and play relaxing music while reading mindfulness prompts he created.

“The results were remarkable,” he reflected. A month after implementing this practice, he surveyed his students, and over 90% shared that they found value in their daily Mindful Moments break.

“Without the dedicated guidance of my professors, I wouldn’t be the teacher I am today,” Bishop said of the support he received from Montclair faculty. “Their passion for preparing future educators and showing empathy toward students, combined with their overall expertise in the field, has been invaluable.”

Empathy as a Teaching Tool

“One of the most significant challenges I faced during my clinical internship was understanding my students’ hardships at home and incorporating that knowledge into my teaching,” Michelle Guerra said after completing her student teaching at International High School in Paterson.

“As an educator in an urban district, I recognized that personal circumstances outside the classroom greatly impacted students’ engagement, behavior, and academic performance,” Guerra said. She worked to build strong relationships with her students, adapting her lesson plans to meet their needs and ultimately supporting students beyond academics.

As a result, she saw positive changes in students’ engagement and participation levels, showing a renewed interest in learning. “I learned the importance of empathy in teaching, and that being a teacher means being responsive to the whole child, not just their academic needs,” Guerra reflected.

Guerra will be teaching at Bergen County Technical High School in Paramus, New Jersey, and is becoming certified in both English and Teacher of Students with Disabilities.

Confidence in the Classroom

Wanting to follow in the footsteps of her inspiring eighth-grade English teacher, Jayda Dizon had always envisioned becoming a middle school teacher herself. When she was challenged to shift gears and work with high school students at Bloomfield High School, Dizon leaned on her Cooperating Teacher, who modeled effective classroom management and engagement strategies. During the course of student teaching, Cooperating Teachers are key figures for the student to lean on for guidance as they complete their teacher preparation program.

Dizon developed her teacher identity with her students: “I realized that finding my voice didn’t mean authority – it meant embracing my own style of teaching while remaining adaptable to my students’ needs. Moving forward in my educator career, I feel prepared to step into any classroom setting with the ability to adapt, connect, and lead with authenticity.”

Dizon will be returning to teach at Bloomfield High School while pursuing an additional certification as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities.

About the Distinguished Clinical Intern & Cooperating Teacher Awards

These awards publicly recognize the year’s fifteen top graduates of educator preparation programs in New Jersey’s colleges and universities. An independent panel of notable New Jersey educators and administrators evaluates the awardees and selects fifteen of them for additional distinction.

Award recipients are selected based on their achievements within the educator preparation program, and ultimately, on how they adapt their learned teaching methods and strategies to meet students’ needs.

Teacher Education Initiatives at Montclair State University

The College for Education and Engaged Learning is dedicated to continuing Montclair’s legacy by preparing aspiring teachers, administrators, and other education professionals for success in New Jersey and beyond.

Montclair State University has been preparing future educators since its establishment in 1908 as the “New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair,” later becoming “Montclair State Teachers College” in 1927.

Prospective Students and Parents: Learn about Montclair admissions and the College for Education and Engaged Learning. Plan your visit and take your first step in applying to become a Red Hawk.

Story by Social Media and Communications Coordinator Lauren Conforti