Congratulations to the Following Teachers!
Sponsored by:
Stefanie Woods
English Teachers
Bayonne High School
Nominated By: Gene WoodsDuring her 17 – year career at Bayonne high school, Stefanie has always put the well-being of her students first through countless support in and out of the classroom. She plays a pivotal role as the National Honor Society Advisor, working with each student every year to support their goal of becoming a member. She’s also the advisor for the newly created Future Educators of America Club, which encourages young people to continue to give back to their community by becoming educators later in life. Stefanie works with each member of the club and takes them on trips to engage other like-minded students across New Jersey while also orchestrating a tutoring program that they take part in once a month with elementary students in Bayonne public schools. Stefanie continues to give back to her community as the Chairperson of the Bayonne Education Association’s Families and Students Together Program and has organized a variety of events that provided families and students with over 10,000 books, 5,000 backpacks, thousands of school supplies, and so much more. additionally, she served as the Gay Straight Alliance Advisor from 2012 to 2016. Even though she is no longer the advisor, new and past students continue to connect with her and seek her support in life.
Lauren Finizia
Art Teacher
New Milford High School
Nominated By: Bonnie TaylorAs an art teacher, Lauren inspires her students to explore their creativity through a wide variety of art mediums. Her classroom is a welcoming space where students feel encouraged to express their talents and share their work. Beyond the classroom, Lauren goes above and beyond to foster artistic growth and community engagement. She leads the school mural club and serves as the advisor for the Arts Honor Society. She also organizes the annual Empty Bowls charity event, which combines art, philanthropy, and community spirit. Lauren guides her students in creating handmade pottery bowls that are sold at the event to raise awareness about world hunger. Proceeds from the event are donated to the New Milford Food Pantry. In addition to her teaching and charity work, Lauren plays a key role in supporting the school’s theater department, assisting with set design for productions in the fall, spring, and summer. Her talent, creativity, and dedication ensure that every performance is brought to life in spectacular fashion. Lauren exemplifies the very best qualities of a teacher: dedication, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to her students and community. Her efforts leave a lasting impact not only on her students but also on the broader New Milford community.
Devin Novakoski
Latin Teacher
Classical Academy Charter School of Clifton
Nominated By: Greg FarleyThis is Devin’s 6th year at the school, and he has made a big difference in the lives of his students, their families, staff, and the entire educational community. Although the content is difficult, Devin makes learning latin meaningful and fun, and he cares deeply for all his students. He routinely has students in his classroom during his lunch period to help with challenging concepts, make up a test or assignment, or counsel anyone dealing with a life issue. Devin proudly attends many after school activities to support his school and his students and is also the school’s Educational Enrichment Advisor, National Junior Honor Society Advisor, 8th Grade Advisor, and Co-President of local NJEA chapter. Outside of school, Devin volunteers to help with a care package drive for the homeless and volunteers with the mothers against drunk driving organization. As a music fan, Devin wears a different concert shirt each dress down Fridays to benefit the home-school association, showcasing all the shows he has been to including Mastodon, Primus, Rush, and Dorothy.
Hafeezah Abdullah
Biology & Science Teacher
Sayerville War Memorial High School
Nominated By: Joy LewisHafeezah brings a sense of warmth and compassion in her daily school lessons. In her classroom, she provides real-life lessons in animal husbandry by keeping live animals and encouraging students to interact with these organisms to learn to care for the environment around them. They not only learn about the upkeep of other creatures, but they develop a healthy concern for the fragile ecosystem that we all share. Her philosophy promotes a positive and meaningful interaction with students, since she believes that this practice will better not only her students but the world in general. She incorporates project-based, cooperative learning into her classes ensuring that students work together and provides examples from previous years so that students are aware of her high expectations. Outside the classroom, she encourages students to seek areas of individual research and pursue projects of personal interest. Hafeezah is also known for encouraging her female students to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and has been very successful in encouraging many students who have graduated to enter the field of science as their chosen profession. She tells her students to always follow their dreams.
