HCST Teacher Wins Hudson County Honor for Second Straight Year

You know that teacher who makes you want to show up, even on a Tuesday morning when the alarm feels like a personal attack? For the second year in a row, Hudson County has found that teacher inside its own vocational schools.

Dr. Shelly Witham, who teaches Earth and Environmental Science at High Tech High School, was named the Hudson County Teacher of the Year this week. The announcement came during a ceremony at The College of New Jersey, where all 21 county winners were honored by the state Department of Education.

Witham has spent 24 years in the classroom, all of them at High Tech. She was also named her school’s Teacher of the Year and nominated for the Governor’s Educator of the Year award. Now she moves on to compete for New Jersey’s top teaching honor, with the state winner announced this fall.

A pattern of excellence at HCST

This isn’t a one-off. Last year, Chef John Palsi of County Prep took the same county-wide honor. Palsi brought more than two decades of professional culinary experience to his students, and he was recognized for shaping the next generation of chefs for 24 years.

That back-to-back recognition has school leaders feeling proud, and they’re not shy about saying so.

“Dr. Witham embodies the passion and dedication required of a County Teacher of the Year,” Superintendent Thomas Macagnano said in a statement. “She is a mentor who leads by example, demonstrating how scientific inquiry can inspire civic responsibility.”

Board President John Minella added his own congratulations, calling the honor a reflection of the dedication teachers bring to their classrooms every day.

What this means for Hudson County families

For parents, this is more than a feel-good headline. It’s a signal that the schools charging tuition — or asking for your tax dollars — are delivering something real. HCST runs several schools across the county, including High Tech and County Prep, and they’ve been quietly building a reputation for educators who go beyond the textbook.

When a science teacher gets recognized at the county level, it says something about the kind of learning happening in those classrooms. It suggests kids aren’t just memorizing facts for a test; they’re being taught to ask questions, to care about their world, and to see themselves as people who can make a difference.

For Witham’s students specifically, this honor comes with a spotlight. The county winner is expected to model what good teaching looks like. That can mean more visitors in the classroom, more attention on projects, and maybe a little more pressure on a teacher who’s already carrying a lot.

But if her track record is any clue, she’s ready for it.

What happens next

Witham now enters the state-level competition. That process involves written applications, video submissions, and interviews with a panel of top finalists. The New Jersey State Teacher of the Year will be announced later this year, and that person goes on to represent the state in the National Teacher of the Year contest.

For now, Hudson County residents can do what neighbors do best: celebrate one of their own. If you or your kids have had Dr. Witham in class, consider sending a note of congratulations. If you haven’t, maybe just take a moment to thank a teacher who made a difference in your life. It costs nothing, and it means everything.