Mrs. Jessica Valdes, Grade 4 teacher at St. Joseph School of Oradell/New Milford, has been named Teacher of the Year for the Archdiocese of Newark. With this distinction, Mrs. Valdes is also the selected candidate for the 2021 Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year award, which is a statewide competition. Mrs. Valdes' nomination will be sent to the NJ Catholic Conference where a statewide committee will review all submitted nominations from NJ Nonpublic schools. That review committee will select nominees for further interview and to move along in the national process.
Mrs. Valdes has taught Grade 4 at St. Joseph School for the past 8 years. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master of Science in Education: Early Childhood from St. John's University in NY. Additionally, Mrs. Valdes earned a certificate in Mathematics from William Paterson University; and has been a member of the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics. Mrs. Valdes has previously taught at St. John the Evangelist in NJ; and Our Lady Help of Christians School and Our Lady of Refuge, in Brooklyn, NY.Mrs. Valdes also volunteers in education. She was an English Language Learner volunteer tutor for United States Project Literacy.
Mrs. Valdes was to be honored by her hometown with a Proclamation presented by Oradell Mayor Dianne Didio at the July 13 Mayor and Council Joint Meeting.