{"id":127736,"date":"2024-09-16T12:56:31","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T16:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/ceel\/?p=127736"},"modified":"2024-09-16T16:28:59","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T20:28:59","slug":"montclair-alumni-recognized-as-county-teachers-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/ceel\/2024\/09\/16\/montclair-alumni-recognized-as-county-teachers-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Montclair Alumni Recognized as County Teachers of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"
\nThe College for Education and Engaged Learning at Montclair State University congratulates our Alumni on their recognition and accomplishment as \u201cTeacher of the Year.\u201d<\/strong>\n<\/div>\n

Bergen County: Margarita Diakos<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Photo
Margarita Diakos is a special education teacher at Ramsey High School.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

\nMargarita Diakos completed the College for Education and Engaged Learning\u2019s Principal Certification<\/a> program and earned the 2023 Promising Leader award. Recipients are recognized for carrying out the program vision: \u201cOur graduates are visionary and inspirational leaders who champion socially just schools and organizations committed to excellence in teaching and learning.\u201d\n

“Margarita graduated summa cum laude from The College of New Jersey with a master\u2019s degree in special education and general education and a bachelor\u2019s degree in psychology.<\/p>\n

With eleven years of experience as a special education teacher, she currently leads the Student Transition Education Program for neurodiverse students, ages eighteen to twenty-one, at Ramsey High School.<\/p><\/div><\/p><\/div>Margarita is dedicated to promoting inclusivity, which is demonstrated through her leadership in and out of the classroom. This includes leading the Best Buddies program, facilitating social connections among students with and without exceptionalities, organizing Special Olympics events to offer sports opportunities to all students, and spearheading Unified Sports, resulting in Ramsey High School being recognized as a Unified Champion School and receiving over $10,000 in grants.<\/p>\n

Beyond these endeavors, Margarita contributes to the Ramsey School District\u2019s Inclusion and Belonging Advisory Committee, working alongside administration, educators, students, and parents in making the Ramsey community a more inclusive place for all stakeholders.<\/p>\n

She strongly advocates for embracing and celebrating diversity, making it her mission to dismantle barriers for her students. Margarita\u2019s relentless efforts consistently enhance learning opportunities for students of all abilities. Through collaborative efforts, she strives to work towards providing an exceptional education to all her students to cultivate resilient, responsible, empathetic, and engaged global citizens.\u201d Excerpts from New Jersey Department of Education<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Essex County: El Houcin Houssam<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Photo
El Houcin Houssam is a mathematics teacher at West Side High School.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

\nEl Houcin Houssam holds a master\u2019s degree in teaching from Montclair State University<\/a> and is a graduate of the Newark-Montclair Urban Teacher Residency (NMUTR)<\/a>, an initial teacher certification program for college graduates and career changers with a deep commitment to urban education. He also holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in mathematics of finance and actuarial science from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.\n

\u201cWith just five years of teaching experience in mathematics, he has expertly guided young adults in their pursuit of careers in science, engineering, and mathematics, instilling in them a passion for learning and discovery.<\/p><\/div><\/p><\/div>El Houcin’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment defines him as an outstanding educator. He goes above and beyond to ensure that every student can thrive, embodying leadership qualities highly regarded in his school community.<\/p>\n

As an active participant on the school improvement panel, he offers valuable insights to enhance the educational experience for all students. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, El Houcin serves as the advisor of the Debate Club, where he nurtures critical thinking and communication skills among students beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n

He demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside of the classroom by contributing his ideas and expertise with his colleagues, students, and families which fosters a culture of continuous improvement and responsiveness to the diverse needs of the school\u2019s educational community.<\/p>\n

El Houcin\u2019s ultimate goal is to make a lasting difference in the lives of his students, equipping them with the skills and confidence to navigate the complexities of both mathematics and the world beyond the classroom.\u201d Excerpts from New Jersey Department of Education<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sussex County: Mary Houghtaling<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Photo
Mary Houghtaling is an English teacher at Kittatinny Regional High School.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

\nMary Houghtaling holds a master\u2019s degree in English<\/a> from Montclair as well as a bachelor\u2019s degree in English literature from Stockton University.\n

\u201cCurrently enrolled in a master\u2019s program in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Stockton University, she demonstrates a dedication to understanding critical issues. With two decades of teaching experience at her school, Mary has earned recognition from students and administration for her innovative projects and inclusive teaching methods.<\/p>\n

She works hard to positively influence her students, encouraging them to do things they never thought possible and share gifts they did not even know they had.
\n<\/p><\/div><\/p><\/div>Her exceptional work has been honored with numerous awards, including the 2013 Golden Apple Teacher Award, 2019 Renaissance Teacher of the Month, 2020 and 2023 Teacher of Excellence, 2023 New Jersey Exemplary Secondary Educator, and 2024 Teacher of the Year.<\/p>\n

Mary\u2019s commitment to Holocaust education led to the Alfred Lerner Fellowship and the establishment of the Holocaust and Genocide Research Center at her school in 2023. Additionally, she received the 2019 Mark Schonwetter Grant for Holocaust Education, the 2023 Joan Lavine Keats Teacher’s Grant, and the 2023 Human Rights Education Youth in Action Award.<\/p>\n

Mary\u2019s story epitomizes continuous growth, resilience, and an unwavering dedication to her students, education, and community.\u201d Excerpts from New Jersey Department of Education<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Warren County: Jennifer Mazziotta-Walter<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Photo
Jennifer Mazziotta-Walter is a visual arts and gifted and talented teacher at Harmony Township School.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

\nAt Montclair, Jennifer Mazziotta-Walter received the Gifted and Talented Education graduate certificate<\/a>. This certification provides aspiring and practicing classroom teachers, resource specialists, educational consultants, administrators, and parents with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully teach students who demonstrate exceptional performance in intellectual, creative, or artistic areas and students who may benefit from specialized instruction and activities within specific content areas.\n

\u201cShe also received her bachelor\u2019s degree in fine arts from Arcadia University and earned her post-baccalaureate certification and master\u2019s degree in art education from Kutztown University.<\/p><\/div><\/p><\/div>Jennifer has been teaching for fourteen years where she models leadership as a teacher mentor, leads Teen Arts, and co-advises Student Council. She has secured multiple grants to bring a Marvel and DC Comics Artist and a metalsmith to her middle school art classes and organized a field trip to the Brooklyn Museum.<\/p>\n

Another grant Jennifer secured funds for was a sensory and community garden, designed by the gifted and talented students, to enhance the school and provide produce for the community and cafeteria.<\/p>\n

In 2013, she received the Minx M. Auerbach Award for Excellence in Education and in 2023, had students\u2019 work published in Davis Publication\u2019s middle school textbook Experience Art. Jennifer serves as the membership chair on the executive board of the Warren County Consortium for Student Enrichment.<\/p>\n

Through the consortium, she orchestrates the fifth and sixth-grade Battle of the Minds tournament for Warren County, co-organizes the Pringle Project, and helps facilitate a virtual parent seminar, supporting parents and teachers of gifted and talented students.<\/p>\n

Jennifer is always looking for opportunities to develop professionally to benefit her students. She is dedicated to creating exciting opportunities for all students and promoting a lifelong love for learning by embracing joy every day through their education.\u201d Excerpts from New Jersey Department of Education<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Read more Alumni success stories here<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The College for Education and Engaged Learning at Montclair State University congratulates our Alumni on their recognition and accomplishment as \u201cTeacher of the Year.\u201d Bergen County: Margarita Diakos Margarita is dedicated to promoting inclusivity, which is demonstrated through her leadership in and out of the classroom. This includes leading the Best Buddies program, facilitating social […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":384,"featured_media":127741,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,11,14,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-127736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-23_college-news-and-events","category-7_homepage-news-and-events","category-225_newark-montclair-urban-teacher-residency-news","category-teacher-education"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/ceel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/ceel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/ceel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/ceel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/384"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/ceel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127736"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/ceel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127736\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":127766,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/ceel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127736\/revisions\/127766"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/ceel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/ceel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/ceel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=127736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/ceel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=127736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}