Posted September 24, 2024
Montgomery Upper Middle School teacher Ms. Stefanie Lachenauer has been named the 2024 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year, becoming the first-ever teacher from the Montgomery Township School District to earn the honor. Lachenauer was celebrated during a ceremony in the Upper Middle School gymnasium on Monday morning.
“Stefanie Lachenauer is the kind of educator who cares for the whole student, from their academic growth to their emotional well-being,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said. “The lessons she has imparted to her students have set them up for lifelong success.”
Stefanie Lachenauer smiles after being presented with the 2024 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year plaque. Also pictured from left to right are President of the State Board of Education Kathy Goldenberg, Montgomery Township School District Superintendent Mary E. McLoughlin, and Montgomery Upper Middle School Principal Raquel Estremera-Rivera.
Lachenauer has been a devoted educator in the Montgomery Township School District for close to two decades. She encourages her students to consider what it means to be a global citizen while conceptualizing how to think globally and act locally. Through letter writing, donations, and connecting to nonprofits and local community efforts, Lachenauer’s students make their voices heard in and around the township.
Outside of the classroom, Lachenauer champions student mental health and wellness. She leads two clubs—the Reflections Club, where students learn about different strategies for relieving stress, and the Yoga Club, where students of all skill levels participate in yoga routines while learning breathing exercises and mindfulness practices.
“Always seeking opportunities to better serve our students, Stefanie Lachenauer was instrumental in the creation, curriculum writing, and instructional delivery of the courses Active Citizenship and Global Leadership,” Montgomery Township School District Superintendent Mary E. McLoughlin said. “Stefanie has also initiated curricular and extracurricular service-learning opportunities for students ranging from volunteering at the local food pantry to building homes for families in Central America.”
Stefanie Lachenauer hugs Stacy Young, Director of Equity, Data, & Accountability for the Montgomery Township School District, following the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year Ceremony.
Furthermore, Lachenauer makes time to support staff members across the district. As the co-chair of the district’s Compassionate Care Team, she creates trauma-informed professional development programs while helping staff members become certified trauma-informed specialists. In her role as a District Wellness Champion, Lachenauer and our district Wellness Committee share community wellness opportunities throughout the year, plan and host Wellness Fairs, and partner with local businesses for events like flu shot clinics and weekly yoga classes.
“Ms. Lachenauer is an extraordinary educator at Montgomery Upper Middle School. Her unwavering commitment to the well-being and development of students and staff sets her apart as a beacon of inspiration,” said Raquel Estremera-Rivera, Principal of Montgomery Upper Middle School.
As the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year, Lachenauer will have the exciting opportunity to represent Montgomery Township, the state of New Jersey, and the teaching profession nationwide. She is slated to attend national events and conferences while making public appearances statewide to speak with professional, business, education, civic, parent, and student groups. Lachenauer will meet the President of the United States as well as some of the top teaching professionals across the country.
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“When teachers like Stefanie make an impact on so many people, it serves as an inspiration to students and fellow educators,” said Keven Dehmer, the New Jersey Acting Commissioner of Education. “She is an outstanding example of the kind of positive change a great teacher can bring about.”
“We know that middle school grades can be a critical time in students’ lives and their learning development, and Stefanie strives to not only education, but to inspire and nurture the students in her school to carry the torch for mental health and wellness leadership,” said Kathy Goldenberg, President of the State Board of Education. “Moreover, her work also provides support to the emotional wellness of her contemporaries.”
In addition to the responsibilities of being the State Teacher of the Year, Lachenauer also becomes New Jersey’s candidate for the National Teacher of the Year Program, which is the oldest and most prestigious honors program to focus public attention on excellence in teaching. Finalists will be named in the winter with the winner set to be announced next spring.
“I was one of those kids who always knew that I was called to be a teacher,” said Lachenauer. “I knew that I wanted to be the teacher who understands that students are more than their studies; the teacher who not only sees the strength, power, and magic in each student, but also makes them feel seen, valued, and connected.”
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