Linden High School Teacher Selected as Union County Teacher of the Year

Linden High School dance and physical education teacher Barbara Brady has been chosen Union County Teacher of the Year for the upcoming school year.

Brady and her students were surprised in her classroom with the news on April 24, 2018 by Union County Superintendent of Schools Juan Torres. Linden Superintendent Danny A. Robertozzi, Principal Yelena Horré, Board of Education Vice President Theresa Villani, and board member Tracey Birch were also there to help Brady celebrate.

The New Jersey Department of Education made the news of the award public on Wednesday, August 15, 2018.

“This is such an amazing honor,” Brady said. “I love the work I do and the feeling I get when I can help inspire my students. That’s why I am so humbled by this award, and excited to represent Union County and especially my hometown of Linden.”

Brady, who has been teaching in Linden for 20 years, had also been chosen as the Dance Teacher of the Year for 2018 for the Eastern District of the United States — a region stretching from Maine to Maryland. The selection by SHAPE America (Society of Health and Physical Educators) made her one of six finalists for National Dance Teacher of the Year.

She was also runner-up for National Dance Teacher of the Year in 2013, as well as state Dance Teacher of the Year in 2012 and 2016, as selected by the New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

“We couldn’t be prouder of Mrs. Brady and the work she does at LHS,” Robertozzi said. “For years she has been inspiring our students to reach for the stars, and you could tell by the students’ excitement at the announcement how much they love her. It’s not her first honor, and she deserves every accolade she gets.”

A panel of educators will select the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year based on written applications, video submissions and interviews with the 21 County Teachers of the Year. The State Teacher of the Year is expected to be announced at the State Board of Education’s October meeting.

This was Linden’s second Union County Teacher of the Year in three years. LHS social studies teacher Monica Goncalves won the award for 2016-17.

(above) Barbara Brady, second from right, accepting her award as Union County Teacher of the Year for 2018-19. She is with, from left, Linden Public Schools Superintendent Danny A. Robertozzi, Union County Superintendent Juan Torres, Linden High School Principal Yelena Horré, and her Linden Dance Company students.

(above) Barbara Brady with Union County Superintendent Juan Torres, Union County Superintendent of Schools.