NJ DOE names Secaucus teacher as Hudson County Teacher of The Year

SECAUCUS – The state’s Department of Education has named a local teacher as their 2018-19 Hudson County Teacher of The Year, according to a press release.
The honor is going to Patricia Smeyers, a fifth grade teacher at the Clarendon Elementary School.
“Mrs. Smeyers is a teacher known for innovation, creativity and keen knowledge of best practices that ignite her students’ interests,” the press release says. “Her technique incorporates strategies designed to meet the needs of all learners through project based instruction.”
Smeyers has a Master’s degree in Educational Technology and has a Technology Integration Specialist Certificate from Boise State University. She has also received a NASA Explorer School STEM award. Additionally, a district social media guide Smeyers created received the Teacher’s Guild/International Society for Technology in Education Favorite award and was highlighted at the 2018 International Society for Technology in Education Convention.
She is also is a member of many New Jersey Associations, including The Association of Mathematics Teachers, The Technology and Engineering Educators Association, and The National Science Teacher Association. She is a certified Google for Education Trainer.
Smeyers was recognized as one of 21 county teachers statewide at an awards ceremony at Jackson Memorial High School in Jackson.
Pictured left to right during the Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony at Jackson Memorial High School are Clarendon School Principal Steve Viggiani, Hudson County Teacher of the Year Patricia Smeyers, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Daniela Riser, Hudson County Superintendent Melissa Pearce, County Educational Specialist Monica Tone.