并不是所有的超级英雄都穿斗篷. 一些, like Angel Santiago of Elmer— New Jersey's Teacher of the Year — are educators and use their powers in the classroom to create a better future for children.

“I teach because I get to participate in cultivating the most precious resource the world has to offer: our future, 我们的孩子,圣地亚哥说。, a fifth-grade teacher at Loring Flemming Elementary School in 威尼斯人注册 Township. “教学是我的激情所在. It is the reason why I get up every day with a positive outlook on life and the reason why I can fall asleep each night feeling fulfilled with my worldly duties."

Santiago always knew that eventually he would become a teacher; however, after graduating from Vineland High School he first took a cross-country road trip with his band to enjoy a taste of the rock star life. The band, Days Like These, toured for six years, signed with a record label and produced two albums. At 23, 圣地亚哥回到家，准备从事他真正的职业, spending his evenings at 坎伯兰 County College (now Rowan College of South Jersey) while working full time as a housing inspector.

“五年来，我晚上和每个周末都去上学,圣地亚哥回忆道。, who attended RCSJ from 2006-2009 before transferring to Fairleigh Dickinson University to earn a master's degree in education. “我妈妈, 莉莲里维拉, was a single parent and stressed the importance of education and hard work. 在90年代, she took classes at the community college and when I was in middle school I would sometimes tag along with her. 我母亲成了一名社会工作者. 我成为了一名教师. 我们甚至分享了一些相同的教授."

最初圣地亚哥想教高中历史. 是RCSJ的助理教授，教育学博士. Donna Bender, who recognized Santiago's potential and offered guidance.

“I think community colleges are extremely important, especially to lower income students. 他们是负担得起的和容易获得的. They help to bring diversity to the playing field," acknowledged Santiago. “Dr. Bender told me that I had a story to tell and that it should be told to elementary school students. 做个英雄. 她说，要做一个榜样. 她让我意识到更男性化, minority teachers were needed in elementary schools for students to relate to — that we shared the same story, 同一张脸. Dr. 本德尔让你觉得自己无所不能."

八年过去了, Santiago is using his superpowers to excite and educate 48 fifth graders as he teaches remotely from an empty classroom. 当他想念和他的“孩子们”在一起的时候," he views online learning as “an opportunity to make his classroom work more efficiently." The weekend DJ and musician exudes enthusiasm and makes online learning fun by incorporating music into lessons plans and providing engaging activities such as partner projects, 分组会议和在线舞会. He also teaches about the power of community service and how helping others enriches your life — a lesson Santiago learned in sixth grade from his mentor, 已故的马克·梅拉米德.

州长菲尔·墨菲在一份声明中说, “New Jersey is known for having the best public-school system in the nation, which is due in large part to the strength of our teaching workforce. Angel Santiago exemplifies the kind of commitment and professionalism that we see in classrooms throughout New Jersey. I want to congratulate Angel for all that he has done to prepare 我们的孩子 to succeed and thrive."

1月, Santiago begins a six-month sabbatical as Teacher of the Year, 与新泽西州教育部合作. 他将分享他的平台——多元化的工作场所, 有色人种教师——与其他教育工作者一起, focused on ways to recruit more minorities into the teaching profession. 圣地亚哥说, 58 percent of New Jersey's students are children of color compared to 16 percent of its educators.

“Students of all different races should have heroes who look like them,一位有三岁儿子的已婚父亲说. “We need to empower them so that they feel like a superhero too."

To learn more about RCSJ's programs and educational opportunities, visit RCSJ.edu.