By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
When Jeanne Muzi decided to switch careers and become a teacher, it never occurred to her that she might be named the Mercer County Teacher of the Year, let alone the New Jersey Teacher of the Year.
That’s why Ms. Muzi was so surprised to receive a telephone call at home from Lucille Davy, the state commissioner of education, two months ago informing her that she had been named the state’s top teacher.
”It was stunning. It was shocking. I can rattle off 10 or 12 teachers who could receive this honor. That’s why this was the biggest surprise ever,” Ms. Muzi said, recalling her reaction to the commissioner’s phone call.
Ms. Muzi, who has taught first grade at Ben Franklin Elementary School for the last seven years, was named the Lawrence Township Teacher of the Year last spring and then Mercer County Teacher of the Year, before reaching the pinnacle as the New Jersey Teacher of the Year.
No one would doubt that being named the New Jersey Teacher of the Year is quite an accomplishment for a teacher who started out as a graphic designer and who later became art director at a corporate communications and graphic design studio in New York City.
After 15 years in the corporate world in New York City, Ms. Muzi — who earned a bachelor’s degree in the humanities and art from Rochester Institute of Technology — felt it was time for a change. Her interest in education was piqued when her oldest child, Ben, entered kindergarten at Ben Franklin Elementary School.
Ms. Muzi began to visit the school and was impressed with the teachers and staff. She also volunteered at the school. When Ben entered fourth grade at Lawrence Intermediate School, she enrolled at Rider University to get a teaching certificate. She earned her certificate in 2002 and began her teaching career at Ben Franklin.
”I think being surrounded by really amazing teachers helps you grow as a teacher,” she said. “I have had some really good role models. I have been taught very well (by the other teachers).”
Ms. Muzi is the first to acknowledge that her classroom is not a quiet one — but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, because it means the children are engaged in learning. It’s “energy with a purpose,” she said.
”It goes back to having all of the children very involved,” she said. “It’s hands-on and trying to make the classroom as creative and energetic as possible. The children are into what they are doing and they are constructing their own best knowledge. Sitting at a desk is not exactly the most memorable day-to-day experience.”
Now, it is Ms. Muzi’s turn to learn as she spends the next 12 months traveling New Jersey as the Teacher of the Year. She was introduced to the state Board of Education as the top teacher last month.
As the New Jersey Teacher of the Year, she will take a half-year sabbatical sponsored by Educational Testing Service beginning in January. She will travel across the state to take part in numerous activities associated with her title.
Ms. Muzi already has had three speaking engagements since she was named as the top teacher. She has spoken to the New Jersey Education Association, the state Parent-Teacher Organization and the New Jersey School Boards Association.
Ms. Muzi is looking forward to traveling across the state to visit other schools and other districts. It will be “great” to have the opportunity to see what is taking place in those other schools, she said.
”It will be a learning experience,” she said. “I always tell my students to be open to opportunities to learn. Here is an opportunity for me to learn what is happening across the state.”
But the greatest thing, Ms. Muzi said, is to be able to represent the Lawrence Township public school district and to let the other school districts know about the good things this district is doing.
”First grade is awesome here. I think about what Slackwood, Eldridge Park and Lawrenceville Elementary schools are doing and it will be nice to share that with other first-grade teachers,” Ms. Muzi said.

