The New Jersey Governor’s Educator of the Year (NJ GEOY) and Service Professional of the Year programs recognize exceptional educators and staff members who go above and beyond to support students and strengthen school communities. These honors celebrate dedication, professionalism, and a commitment to creating positive, inclusive learning environments, highlighting the important role these individuals play in helping all students succeed.
This year, Mrs. Laderach (Art Teacher) and Mrs. Hoffman (Paraprofessional) were awarded these honors at School Street School. They were celebrated at Monday's BOE meeting.
Below are excerpts from the speeches given that night...
Mrs. Laderach is the kind of educator who knows every student in our building by name and makes them feel seen. Each week, she teaches over 250 students, yet she creates a classroom where every child feels welcomed, valued, and confident. As an art teacher, she brings out her students’ creativity and confidence. Her projects are developmentally appropriate, inspiring, and thoughtfully designed to introduce students to a wide range of artistic genres. New to her teaching this year is an adaptive art class that she teaches once a week for our special education students. The students and their paraprofessionals absolutely love the time spent with her. She takes the time to understand them — their likes, dislikes, strengths, and disabilities — ensuring every child feels successful and proud. The children return to their room with huge smiles, excited to show their artwork and share what they created.
For more than 20 years, Mrs. Hoffman (aka Miss Jill) has shown unwavering dedication to our school community. Day after day, year after year, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism, compassion, and a tireless work ethic. Miss Jill is one of those rare people who make a difference the moment she walks into a room. She can be placed in any classroom, with any group of students—no matter how challenging—and immediately establish meaningful connections. Her natural ability to build trust and rapport, especially with students who face behavioral or academic challenges, is nothing short of remarkable. Miss Jill approaches every child with patience, empathy, and high expectations. She helps students feel seen, heard, and truly valued.