St. Rose and Union Catholic Regional High School Educators Named
Co-Nonpublic School Teachers of the Year
Co-winners reiterates the strength of the nonpublic schools’ teaching community
Ms. Linda E. Groh, a high school theology teacher at St. Rose High School in Belmar, N.J., and Dr. Marla James, a high school journalism, history, government and politics, and English teacher at Union Catholic Regional High School (UC) in Scotch Plains, N.J., have been named co-winners of the New Jersey Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year Award for 2024 in a competition sponsored by the NJ Council for American Private Education (NJCAPE). The awards will be presented on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at the Trenton Pastoral Center.
Ms. Groh began her teaching career in 2005 at St. Veronica School where she chaired the Social Studies Department and additionally taught religion and language arts. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, History, and Secondary Education from Georgian Court University in Lakewood, N.J.
In addition to her classroom schedule, Ms. Groh was awarded a grant to implement the Hope Squad, a program that aims to elevate students’ mental wellbeing through peer-to-peer suicide prevention programming. Under her leadership as a licensed Hope Squad advisor, the program has raised the entire school community’s awareness about mental health and [the importance of] supporting others. Following its success, she created “Hope Week,” which includes a mental health fair, with mental health professionals available for counsel, and fun activities to support mental health wellness. She also created the LIGHTHOUSE Mental Health Club, where all students are made to feel welcomed, valued, and accepted. Ms. Groh is a member of the National Catholic Education Association and the CulleyStrong Foundation.
Dr. James began her teaching career as an adjunct faculty member at Brookdale Community College, a position she held until 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in in Speech Communications from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts in Journalism from Temple University, A Master of Arts in American History from the American Military University, and a Doctorate in E-Learning Specialization from National University, San Diego.
Dr. James has become a leader in online learning and a master in online course design. She is a teacher for the Virtual High School (VHS) Collaborative and has written AP Government and Politics and AP European History coursework for VHS. She has also designed and written coursework for UC's in-house virtual offerings on both the middle school level and the high
school/college level. Dr. James has supported the UC faculty and staff through presentations on Project Based Learning (PBL), Universal Design in Learning (UDL), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementation for teachers and students.
Mr. Robert Dougherty, principal of St. Rose said of Groh, “Linda is a teacher that has made a tremendous impact on our school well beyond the walls of her classroom, [she] has cultivated an environment of respect and rapport among her students which leads to an enriching, authentic learning experience for our students.”
Similarly, Sister Percylee Hart, principal of UC, said of James, “Since joining our faculty in December 2005, she has distinguished herself as a dynamic educator and leader, [who] has been instrumental in shaping our curriculum and fostering academic growth at UC.”
Ms. Bonnie Milecki, president of NJCAPE, remarked that “Having these two co-winners reiterates the strength of the nonpublic schools’ teaching community. We are blessed to have dedicated and talented teachers who prioritize excellent academic instruction and the mental health needs of our students. It was impossible to choose which of these two teachers to honor because their individual areas of expertise complement one another and prove that in our schools we value the needs of the whole child.”
Dr. George Corwell, Director of the Office of Education of the New Jersey Catholic Conference and Chairperson of the Selection Committee for the award, said the following about this year’s winners, “Nonpublic schoolteachers are pivotal in preparing students for the skills and knowledge needed for the rapidly evolving challenges of the 21st Century, especially here in New Jersey. Their efforts strengthen the advancement of parental choice in education so that parents have the right to send their child to a school that best suits their individual needs. Our winners, Ms. Groh and Dr. James demonstrate each day what it means to be fully invested in your career and they represent the best and brightest among the thousands of devoted nonpublic schoolteachers who do their jobs in a way that embodies the true spirit of education, while enhancing the lives of nonpublic school children and the communities in which they live.”
The Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year Award is conducted under the auspices of NJCAPE. All major nonpublic school constituencies in New Jersey are invited to submit a nominee for the award. This award is significant because almost one out of every eight students in New Jersey is educated in a nonpublic school, a higher percentage than the nation as a whole. In addition to NJCAPE, sponsorship for the Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year was provided by Catapult Learning, Inc. and ConnectOne Bank, as well as individual organizations within NJCAPE. Dr. Corwell noted that “These companies have shown exceptional leadership in education within the state of New Jersey and nonpublic schools, and we are grateful for their continued support of this important award.”
For more information contact: Dr. George V. Corwell, Director of the Office of Education for the New Jersey Catholic Conference and Treasurer of NJCAPE: voice: (609) 989-1120, ext. 16, fax: (609) 989-1152, E-mail: [email protected].