Our Very Own Teacher of The Year!

Notre Dame Academy instructor named Teacher of the Year

PALISADES PARK—Julia Guthrie, a fourth-grade teacher at Notre Dame Academy, has been named the 2018 Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year for the archdiocese, as well as for the entire state of New Jersey. If the name sounds familiar, Guthrie was featured in the cover story of the September issue of New Jersey Catholic. She has served the Notre Dame community for six years, and attended the school herself as a child. She received a bachelor’s degree in history from William Paterson University and earned a master’s in education from Felician University. Guthrie teaches reading, religion and social studies, and are personally meaningful to them.” She explained she receives personal satisfaction from the opportunity to help avowed nonreaders find the one book that changes everything for serves as the English and Language Arts curriculum chair. “Julia is a valued colleague and someone the entire faculty relies on when struggling with lesson planning, curriculum mapping and, especially, increasing student motivation and interest in learning,” said Notre Dame Principal Mark Valvano.  “Her wealth of knowledge in the area of integrating technology into the classroom has made her an incredible asset to our staff and school community.” Guthrie said she views education as a process capable of changing both individuals and society for the better. She noted that “students need to be grappling with problems that them. Guthrie has also developed projects that promote academic excellence in students and professional growth in teachers, including local history projects that identify places that tell the story of the town where their school is located. The Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year Award is conducted with the help and support of the NJ Council for American Private Education (NJ CAPE). The competition is open to all nonpublic school teachers throughout the state. The award is significant because almost one out of every eight students in New Jersey is educated in a nonpublic school, a significantly higher percentage than the nation as a whole.