Monmouth County Educator Named 2025-26 NJ Teacher Of The Year

FREEHOLD BOROUGH, NJ — A Monmouth County educator has officially been named the 2025-26 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year, the NJ Department of Education announced on Wednesday.

Gillian Ober, an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher in the Freehold Borough School District, officially received the honor after being named Monmouth County Teacher of the Year for 2025-26 in August.

In her new role as State Teacher of the Year, Gillian will work with the NJ Department of Education and give presentations to colleagues and stakeholders around the state, speak with aspiring teachers and visit classrooms to advance the teaching profession.

She will also take part in national conferences with other State Teachers of the Year.

“New Jersey is proudly home to the nation’s top-ranked public education system, which is an honor we can only boast thanks to the tireless work of our educators," Governor Phil Murphy said. "Gillian is truly a testament to our state’s dedicated teacher workforce."

“Her story reminds us of our obligation to uplift all students, providing them with a world-class education and readying them to thrive throughout their lives," Murphy continued.

Since 2019, Ober has worked as an ESL teacher in the Freehold Borough School District – first at Park Avenue Elementary School and currently at Freehold Intermediate School.

In addition to her experience as an educator, Ober has also earned dual master’s degrees, one in curriculum and instruction from Western Governors University and another in Spanish & ESL instruction from Monmouth University.

Before she began teaching in the Freehold Borough School District, Ober taught abroad for several years, and started teaching in 2014, with one of her first jobs as an ESL teacher in Phang Nga, Thailand.

It was there — in 102-degree heat, with monsoon rains pouring through the ceiling of an open-air classroom with a roof and open sides — that Ober said she first discovered her calling.

“As sweat – or perhaps water from the ceiling – dripped down my face, I thought, ‘How am I not completely miserable right now?’” Ober said. “The answer came as I looked at my students, who came to my class each day with enthusiasm and readiness to learn.”

“They laughed about the classroom puddles from the monsoon and tackled the day’s assignment with excitement,” Ober continued. “I was overjoyed and fueled by their passion. I had found my passion for working with multilingual learners, and New Jersey public schools called me back home.”

In her work as a teacher, Ober said many of her students are newcomers to New Jersey and often have interrupted formal education and significant trauma.

Often at the earliest stages of English acquisition, Ober said her students turn to her in times of distress as they navigate a new language and culture, and that she prides herself on trauma-informed practices that help them navigate past ordeals they may have experienced, while processing the new world around them.

“The learners I work with are so brave, and the relationships we form are the launchpad for learning," Ober said. "When students feel seen and safe in the classroom, it's really amazing how high they can soar.”

In her day-to-day teaching, Ober said she often incorporates technology into her instruction, such as using artificial intelligence to create a comic book to help her students visualize the novel they’re reading or using virtual reality goggles to take students on computer-generated field trips to World Heritage Sites in their home countries.

Outside the classroom, Ober also works as an adjunct professor at Monmouth and Georgian Court universities, where she helps current and prospective teachers gain insight into working with multilingual learners.

According to the NJ Department of Education, she has also been published in academic textbooks and peer-reviewed journals.

“Gillian Ober consistently demonstrates her deep respect for students, their journeys, and the value of multilingualism,” said Asia Michael, Superintendent of the Freehold Borough School District. “She continuously fosters a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, and solutions-oriented thinking, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.”

“Gillian’s advocacy for multilingual learners is equally impactful,” Michael continued. “She views multilingualism as a ‘superpower’ and works tirelessly to help her students see their identities, languages, and cultures as sources of strength.”

John Brovak, the principal of Freehold Intermediate School, emphasized Ober’s unwavering dedication to students both in and outside of the classroom and said the recognition is not only a testament to her excellence, but also a reflection of the hard work and commitment of the Freehold Intermediate School staff.

Kevin Dehmer, the Commissioner of Education, added that Ober’s dedication inspires not only her students, but also her colleagues and those who may be considering a career in education.

“New Jersey schools are filled with talented and dedicated educators, and Gillian exemplifies the kind of excellence, empathy, and innovation that we see every day in classrooms throughout New Jersey,” Dehmer said. “Gillian’s dedication inspires her students, her colleagues, and those who may be considering a career in education. We are proud to recognize Gillian as New Jersey’s 2025-2026 State Teacher of the Year.”

To learn more, you can visit the NJ Department of Education website.

Previous Coverage

• Freehold Educator Named 2025-26 County Teacher Of The Year By NJ