Alumna Named Passaic County Teacher of the Year                       

“I was speechless…totally shocked,” said Bernadette Orsita ’06, when she learned that she was named Passaic County Teacher of the Year 2024-2025.  “We have so many outstanding, fantastic teachers in Passaic County. I am humbled to be given this honor.”

A teacher of Spanish for 16 years at Manchester Regional High School (MRHS) in Haledon, Ms. Orsita is among the 21 educators named County Teacher of the Year by the New Jersey Department of Education. All were recognized at a ceremony last August at the College of New Jersey in Ewing.

Ms. Orsita was nominated by her fellow faculty members at MRHS, who praised her “unique ability to involve the community in her lessons and bring that into the classroom to engage her students on a deeper level.”

She is the first teacher from the district to receive this honor, a remarkable milestone for an educator who once believed she could not learn.

 Bernadette was among the NJ County Teachers of the Year 2024-2025 recognized by the New Jersey Education Association in a ceremony at the College of New Jersey in Ewing.

Early Educational Journey

Born in Paterson, young Bernadette was the eldest of four children raised by a single mother. Living on welfare, the family often struggled for food and other basic necessities.

A bright student in elementary school, Bernadette later struggled at Eastside High School. “Something happened to me,” she says. “I lost my confidence and didn’t think I could learn anymore, so I didn’t take school seriously.” 

Failing two classes, Bernadette did not graduate and considered herself done with school. She married, had a daughter, and got on with life. Or so she thought.

Years later, while working as a school lunch aide, Ms. Orsita, who had no particular affinity for children, noticed that the youngsters were drawn to her. “I was surprised and started to feel closer to them.”  She wanted to become a classroom aide, but would need 60 college credits.

“I was 48 years old, caring for three grandchildren, and holding down a full-time job,” Ms. Orsita recalls. “I didn’t think I could go to school, too.”  But with encouragement from her husband, Peter, and reliance on their deep religious faith, she decided to try.

College Years

Ms. Orsita passed the entrance test at PCCC, enrolled in two courses, and was amazed that her ability and love for learning had returned.  

A high achiever, she was admitted to the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society, delivered the keynote address at PTK’s 2006 Honors Awards Ceremony, and was even offered a scholarship to Harvard. “I wanted to accept it,” said Ms. Orsita, “but I had three grandsons to care for, so I turned it down.”

She did, however, receive PCCC’s Presidential Scholarship and, earning her associate’s degree in Liberal Arts, Ms. Orsita transferred to William Paterson University (WPU), where she graduated summa cum laude in 2008 with a BA in Spanish Teacher Education and the President’s Scholar Award.

“I feel so blessed that I started college at PCCC. It was one of the best experiences of my life. It is absolutely the perfect place to begin your college journey,” says Ms. Orsita, crediting the encouragement she received here for inspiring her to become a teacher. “Watching the wonderful professors I had at PCCC made me want to do what they do.”

“Bernadette Orsita was an exemplary student,” comments PCCC English professor Alan Mitnick. “She came to the college with all the traits of a critical thinker and produced work that showed intelligence and skill. It was clear that she wanted to be able to take pride in herself in and out of the classroom, and she succeeded!”

Student advisor Janet Varvara added, “Bernadette felt fortunate to begin her journey at PCCC, but indeed we were the fortunate ones!  Her humor, compassion, and drive were an inspiration to students and staff alike.”

Ms. Orsita maintains close ties with faculty and staff members at the College. In 2009, she even participated in a PCCC television commercial.   

Teaching and Outreaching

Shortly after graduating from WPU, Ms. Orsita began teaching at MRHS.  “I wanted to teach here to give back to kids like me, who might not know how smart they are because nobody tells them.” 

Ms. Orsita tells them. In creative lessons that make learning fun. In mantras posted around the classroom to remind students they can succeed. And through the many initiatives she spearheaded to foster connection among the students and with the wider community.

One of those, the Make a Difference Club, brings together special needs and general education students to interact and form positive relationships. Another endeavor, the annual Multicultural Fair, features crafts, dance, and music, in a vibrant celebration of the multiple cultures represented at MRHS. “I love that so many students are enthusiastic about participating,” says Ms. Orsita

Committed to community service, the educator volunteers with Oasis, a Paterson women’s shelter, and regularly organizes food and clothing drives for various organizations, often involving her students in these ventures, “so they learn that they have the power to make a difference.”

As a teacher, Ms. Orsita wants her students to graduate from high school knowing the material they are supposed to learn, “but more important,” she says, “I want them to leave knowing that they have value, they belong, and can be successful.” At the end of every school year, she presents each student in her classes with a personal note “to remind them that there is a plan for their lives and that they have a purpose in this world.”

Deeply appreciative of her colleagues and students at MRHS, Ms. Orsita offers these gracious words about what the Passaic County Teacher of the Year award means to her:

“While I may be the one holding this award, it represents so much more than my individual efforts. This honor reflects the dedication, passion, and perseverance of my students, who constantly inspire me to give my best; my colleagues, some of the greatest educators I have ever met, who share in the daily challenges and triumphs of this work; and the community that surrounds and uplifts us all. We win together, we grow together, and we inspire together. This achievement is a testament to the power of collaboration, support, and shared commitment to making a difference.”

by Linda Telesco