TRENTON -- New Jersey on Thursday named 21 educators as Teachers of the Year, with one teacher representing each county in the state.
The teachers, selected by panels of administrators, teachers and parents in each county, will now compete to become New Jersey's state Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced in October.
The awards are a tribute to the talent, dedication and success of the teachers, state Education Commissioner David Hespe said. Here are the teachers who won the award in each county:
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Atlantic: Michael Martirone, a social studies teacher at Egg Harbor Township High School in Egg Harbor Township School District.
Bergen: Gregory Mulford, a music teacher at Roy W. Brown Middle School in Bergenfield School District.
Burlington: Jennifer Braverman, an art teacher at Maple Shade High School in Maple Shade School District.
Camden: Elizabeth Light, an art teacher at Gloucester City Junior-Senior High School in the Gloucester City School District.
Cape May: Erin Ridgway, a second-grade teacher at Glenwood Avenue Elementary School in Wildwood School District.
Cumberland: Belinda Murphy, a math teacher at ExCEL School in Bridgeton School District
Essex: Jessica Picciuto, a fourth grade teacher at Oak View School in Bloomfield School District.
Gloucester: Jennifer Clune, a special education teacher at Jeffrey Clark School in East Greenwich Township School District,
Hudson: Danielle Savino-Garzon, a second-grade teacher at Dr. Michael Conti School in Jersey City School District.
Hunterdon: Samantha Billig, a business teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Hunterdon Central Regional High School District.
Mercer: Edward Holub, a social studies teacher at Pond Road Middle School in Robbinsville Township Public School District
Middlesex: Janet El-Maraghy, a fourth-grade teacher at Dr. H.N. Richardson 21st Century School in Perth Amboy School District.
Monmouth: Amanda Andrews, a math teacher at Keyport Central School in Keyport Public School District.
Morris: Cheryl Zanone, a science teacher at Robert R. Lazar Middle School in Montville School District.
Ocean: Brittany Bucco, a world languages teacher at Lake Riviera Middle School in Brick Township School District.
Passaic: Shawn Rhinesmith, a second-grade teacher at Marshall Hill Elementary School in West Milford Township School District.
Salem: Chelsea Collins, an English teacher at Woodstown Middle School in Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District.
Somerset: Kristine Shurina, an eighth grade teacher at Bridgewater Raritan Middle School in Bridgewater Raritan School District.
Sussex: Lisa Hirkaler Murphy, an art teacher at Vernon Township High School in Vernon Township School District.
Union: Janice Marsili, an art teacher at David Brearley Middle/High School in Kenilworth School District.
Warren: Darlene Noel, an elementary school teacher at Green Street School in Phillipsburg School District.
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