St. Joseph's Jessica Valdes named Teacher of the Year for the Archdiocese of Newark

Jessica Valdes, a fourth-grade teacher at St. Joseph School of Oradell/New Milford, was named Teacher of the Year for the Archdiocese of Newark. With this distinction, Valdes is also the selected candidate for the 2021 Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year award, a statewide competition.

Valdes’ nomination will be sent to the New Jersey Catholic Conference, where a statewide committee will review all submitted nominations from N.J. Nonpublic schools. That review committee will select nominees for further interview and move along in the national process.

Valdes has taught the fourth grade at St. Joseph School for the past eight 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 New York. Additionally, Valdes earned a certificate in Mathematics from William Paterson University; and has been a member of the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics. Valdes has previously taught at St. John the Evangelist in N.J., Our Lady Help of Christians School, and Our Lady of Refuge, in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Valdes also volunteers in education. She was an English Language Learner volunteer tutor for United States Project Literacy. Valdes was honored by her hometown with a Proclamation presented by Oradell Mayor Dianne Didio at the July 13 Mayor and Council meeting.

Featured image: Jessica Valdes, a fourth-grade teacher at St. Joseph School of Oradell/New Milford, was named Teacher of the Year for the Archdiocese of Newark. She was presented with a proclamation by the mayor of Oradell at a recent council meeting.