Dickstein named Teacher of Year, County Freedom Medal winner, nominated for Governor’s Educator of Year
The school year is half over and the new calendar year has just begun, but it has been nothing short of a whirlwind for Haddonfield Memorial High School English teacher and Voorhees native Kimberly Dickstein.
Her work, alongside HMHS seniors dubbed “The Five,” to help bring South Sudanese native Garang Buk Buk Piol to America and achieve his goal of obtaining a master’s degree from Emory University, has been her main focus when not teaching the wonders of William Shakespeare.
She’s been named HMHS Teacher of the Year and is a nominee for Governor’s Educator of the Year. The Teacher and Educational Services Professional of the Year nomination and selection process lasted from Nov. 1 through Dec. 21, and Dickstein was notified of her honor on Jan. 3, the day students and teachers returned from holiday break.
“I was in class and my students were working with a tableau activity where they were standing and creating images from the text that we were reading,” she said. “I had students on the floor, and on their feet, and so when all the administrators walked in, it was really funny because everything was in disarray — as is the fun of performance-based learning. It was humbling and overwhelming because I work with so many great educators here.”
Dickstein said she was in shock and trying not to cry. Her students started clapping and it was very sweet because, as she said, to receive that recognition with her charges was so important. When the welcome party asked for picture with school administration, she asked that her entire class be included in the picture because, simply put, she wouldn’t be in that position without students and colleagues.
Up next for Dickstein at the state level, is submitting an application to the district superintendent who will forward it to the state Department of Education for County Teacher of the Year consideration. The NJDOE will take two months, from mid-February to mid-April, to review all applicants before making a selection. Should she be selected for Camden County, she, along with other state Teacher of the Year finalists, will be interviewed by a statewide selection committee in late August.
If that weren’t enough to boost one’s confidence in their calling, Dickstein was also recognized among 18 Camden County residents honored for their unselfish contributions to improving their community at the 2019 Camden County Freedom Medal ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 23.
The award, created by the Camden County Freeholder Board in 2001, is presented annually to civic leaders who demonstrate the ideals and actions that reflect the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“I do not do anything with the intent of a ‘thank you’ or to receive an honor. I just act out of a sense that something is the right thing to do and the right time to do it. I wouldn’t have been able to do the work with Garang if it weren’t for my 10 years as a teacher in Haddonfield and 16 years volunteering with Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation, if it weren’t for a lifetime of residency in Camden County. This is the result of my collective experiences.”
Dickstein attended Voorhees Township Public Schools for 13 years, and remains grateful to all of her teachers, counselors, and principals for encouraging her growth as a student. Those experiences through VTPS and Eastern Regional High School inspired her to become an educator and pursue a path of spirited inquiry.
Since 2002, ARVF has dedicated $2.5 million in providing Victorious 4 Teens Programs to teenagers and young adults battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Its namesake, Alicia DiNatale, was one of Dickstein’s best friends growing up, and she feels honored to meet the needs of hospitalized teens Alicia’s memory. Dickstein currently serves as the co-advisor for the Youth Leadership Council and helps coordinate events like the Victorious 5K and MLK Day of Service.
“I didn’t realize, until this moment, how much people cared about the work we are doing in our classrooms and also how many people believe in me and the work that I do in particular. And that has been very emotional. It’s made me think about what I value and be appreciative that they value it, too,” she said.
In between these seismic events, Dickstein said she has been intent on focusing on the work at hand, both inside and outside the classroom. She admitted that, once the surprise wears off, life goes on. There are lessons to be taught and people to serve when honors are not bestowed.
“I suppose it’s a reminder that I probably need to rest. But I also thrive in environments where there is opportunity for growth. And I’m sure that there will be another opportunity for growth in the near future. I just don’t know what it will be next. I’m excited about that. I live a very full life and I am proud of that,” Dickstein added.
To learn more about the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation, visit: https://www.victoriousfoundation.org/.
