NJEA is proud to honor our members who have been named the 2026-27 County Educational Support Professionals (ESP) and Teachers of the Year. NJEA administers the County ESP program and works with the State of New Jersey to honor our members who are county teachers of the year.
County ESP of the Year
Atlantic
Annette Palmeri, Paraprofessional, Hamilton Twp. EA
Bergen
Leslie Cabrera, Paraprofessional, Carlstadt EA
Burlington
Susan Howard, Library Assistant, Delran EA
Camden
Cristina Gonzalez, Secretary, Lindenwold EA
Cape May
Scott Tozer, Custodian, Middle Twp. EA
Cumberland
Chantelle Clark-Cloughley, Food Service, Millville EA
Essex
Dwight Holmes, Paraprofessional, Orange EA
Gloucester
Chrissy Kosar, Transportation, Washington Twp. Support
Hudson
Modesta Rivera, Paraprofessional, Jersey City Paraprofessional EA
Hunterdon
Katherine Beggiato, Paraprofessional, Hunterdon Central Regional EA
Mercer
Shimica Mayfield, Paraprofessional, Trenton EA
Middlesex
Mark Palmieri, Computer Tech, Old Bridge EA
Monmouth
Billy Bastedo, Custodian, Freehold Regional EA
Morris
Marylynn Macleod, Secretary, Chatham EA
Ocean
Cathy Cardinale, Paraprofessional, Manchester Twp. EA
Passaic
Helene Anderson, Instructional Assistant, Paterson EA
Salem
Debra Stefanski, Paraprofessional, Penns Grove- Carneys Point Regional EA
Somerset
Mike Pisani Maintenance, Watchung Hills, Regional EA
Sussex
Karolee Murphy, Paraprofessional, Sussex-Wantage EA
Warren
Dorene Kopesky, Paraprofessional, Phillpsburg EA
County Teachers of the Year
Atlantic
Kimberley Briles, Social Studies, Greater Egg Harbor Regional
Bergen
Tomas Villa, Chemistry, Northern Valley Regional
Camden
Ana Sánchez Hernández, Spanish, Haddonfield
Cape May
Carly Crisanti, Fine Arts, Lower Cape May Regional
Cumberland
Dr. Jeffrey Martine, Social Studies, Vineland
Gloucester
Pam DeRose, Art, Delsea Regional
Hudson
Dr. Shelly Witham, Earth & Environmental Science, Hudson County Schools of Technology
Hunterdon
Gretchen Biedermann, Special Education, Flemington-Raritan
Mercer
Jennifer Vogel, STEM, East Windsor Regional
Middlesex
Jessica Miele, 3rd Grade, Edison Twp.
Monmouth
Megan Watts, Mathematics, Manalapan-Englishtown Regional
Morris
Hannah Olmo, High School Dance, Dover
Ocean
Angela Germano, Public Speaking, Toms River Regional
Passaic
Gemmerton Reyes, TV/Video Production, PC Manchester Regional
Salem
Michelle Schnetzler, Special Education, PGCP Regional
Somerset
Neil Thompson, Social Studies, North Plainfield
Sussex
Jim McKowen, Mathematics, Hopatcong
Union
Dr. Alice Debowski, Special Education, Elizabeth
Warren
Melissa Arrambide, 2nd Grade, Allamuchy Township