Kean graduates Ryen Hagg and Cristiana Rodrigues with education officials. Kean graduate Lillianna Ramos, who was also awarded with distinction, is not pictured.
Three new teachers who recently graduated from Kean University were recognized as among the top student teachers in the state this year.
They were among 16 new teachers who received the highest commendation, Awarded with Distinction, from the New Jersey Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NJACTE) and the state Department of Education (DOE) as clinical interns, or student teachers. In all, 63 new teachers who recently graduated from 22 New Jersey colleges were recognized as Distinguished Clinical Interns at a festive ceremony held at Kean University.
“I know the importance of what takes place in classrooms every day, and I am so proud of each of you,” Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., told the group. “You are stepping into your role at a time when teachers are needed more than ever. I have no doubt you will have a profound impact.”
Kean graduate Cristiana Rodrigues ’24, who completed her student teaching in a third grade classroom at Washington Elementary School in her hometown of Union, said it was “surreal” to receive the top honor. In the fall, she will be a full-time teacher at the school, which she also attended as a child.
“I get to go back and thank all the teachers who made me want to be a teacher,” said Rodrigues, who is also beginning studies at Kean this fall for a master’s degree in special education - learning and behavioral disabilities.
Each student teacher spent two semesters working alongside cooperating teachers as part of their training. Stationed in classrooms throughout the state and across grades, they taught classes, prepared lessons, conducted labs and served as role models to children.
The state education department and NJACTE also recognized the cooperating classroom teachers who worked with the student teachers. New Jersey Acting Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer and Assistant Commissioner Jorden Schiff, Ed.D., both took part in the ceremony.
“This collaboration between cooperating teachers and clinical interns exemplifies how much we can accomplish for New Jersey’s students by working together,” Dehmer said. “These remarkable individuals stand at the intersection of learning and teaching, and their commitment serves as an inspiration to many.”
Monmouth Regional High School social studies teacher Joseph Nappi, the 2023-2024 State Teacher of the Year, also spoke at the ceremony. Nappi, who works closely with the Holocaust Resource Center at Kean, and teaches an elective class on the Holocaust, genocide and humanity that gives his students Kean credit, congratulated both the new teachers and the cooperating teachers.
“This is an amazing profession,” Nappi said, “one that will impact, by the time you’re done, thousands of minds.”
The Kean students who received top honors – recent graduates Ryen Hagg ’23 ’24 M.A., Lillianna Ramos ’23 ’24 M.A., and Rodrigues ’24, all said they were honored to receive the awards. They also expressed thanks to their cooperating teachers.
Hagg, of Garwood, interned in a Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School chemistry classroom with teacher Swati Bulusu. A third-generation teacher – Hagg’s mother and grandfather, who both attended the ceremony, are educators – she will teach chemistry at Cranford High School in the fall.
“I was nervous, but it further confirmed this is what I am supposed to do,” she said. “My favorite moments were when I could explain things and saw my students experience that lightbulb moment.”
Ramos, of Colonia, interned with Rahway High School math teacher Toni Robertelli. She will begin a full-time job teaching algebra and geometry there this fall.
“I am super excited to continue my journey with an amazing group of math teachers I have gotten to know over the past year,” Ramos said. “I cannot wait to push myself to be better. I aim to be the best teacher I can be for my students.”