Stefanie Lachenauer has been named the 2024-25 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year. Her journey into education began in Nutley, where she developed a passion for teaching despite facing challenges such as stress and bullying during her school years. "I struggled with stress," Lachenauer recalls, noting that despite good grades, she often felt inadequate.
Lachenauer attended Douglass College at Rutgers University, earning her undergraduate degree in 2006 and a master's degree in education from Rutgers Graduate School of Education in 2007. Her college experience allowed her to redefine herself and take on leadership roles, including serving as class president and participating in student government.
Reflecting on her academic journey, Lachenauer shared an early setback: "I actually failed a class in college in my first semester," she said. This experience taught her resilience, leading to eventual success when she retook the course and earned an A.
Her teaching career started with social studies and language arts at the lower middle school level before moving to Montgomery Upper Middle School. There, she teaches Skills for Success classes focused on self-exploration and mental health management. "I want to help kids know who they are and love themselves," Lachenauer explains.
In addition to classroom teaching, Lachenauer is involved with Montgomery's Youth Action Board and facilitates community projects addressing youth issues like mental health awareness. Her global experiences include service learning projects abroad with students through organizations like Education First and Habitat for Humanity.
Lachenauer also created Self Care Days at her school post-pandemic to teach students coping skills and stress management strategies. These events have expanded district-wide due to their success.
As New Jersey State Teacher of the Year, Lachenauer will take a six-month sabbatical to work with the New Jersey Department of Education. She expresses excitement about this opportunity: "It’s the greatest honor to be able to represent our state."
The recognition comes with various benefits from program sponsor ETS and NJEA, including technology equipment worth $3,000, a rental car for travel across the state, media training support, and funding for a trip to Washington D.C.
For those interested in having Lachenauer visit their schools during her tenure as Teacher of the Year, contact can be made via email at 2025NJSTOY@gmail.com.
Kathryn Coulibaly contributed content support for this article; she can be reached at kcoulibaly@njea.org.
