Theresa Maughan, today N.J. 2021-22 teacher of the year, yesteryear undocumented immigrant

NEWARK, NJ—Theresa Maughan was born and raised in Belize. When she was 5 years old, her family emigrated to the United States to be with her father, who came a year before under a work visa. A young girl, she knew nothing of expired visas, deportation or what it meant to be an ‘alien’ in the land of the free. Six years later, in 1971, the family faced deportation, and it was Maughan’s fifth-grade teacher who rallied for them. 

Ms. Roman, Maughan’s Social Studies teacher, organized a write-in campaign and reached out to the Jersey Journal to cover the family’s story. It was only recently she found the article and was brought to tears. One article headline read “Alien father of four losing fight to remain in America.” 

Screenshot of article featuring Theresa Maughan’s family story on deportation in 1971. (Photo courtesy of Theresa Maughan)

“I just thought of my dad...a quiet, dignified man he's always been, and this must have been so out of his comfort zone to have people publicly know what was happening to his family and to actually have to ask for help,” she said.

Attendees of the same church, Maughan’s father saw it as a last resort to reach out to Ms. Roman after being unable to renew his visa. The parents of her classmates even pitched in, writing to elected officials about the family’s plight. Their efforts led to the opportunity for an extended stay. One of her classmates’ fathers received a letter from Senator Harrison A. Williams, notifying them that Maughan and her siblings would be allowed to stay in the country until the end of the school year. 

“It was not an easy process for my family,” she said. “It took years and cost my family a lot of money with immigration lawyers in order to receive our green cards.”

The only Black child in her grade at the time, Maughan credits her teachers’ efforts in making her feel included. They took an interest in her, helping when she had trouble reading and even instilling a deep appreciation and love for research. Years later, she is following in their footsteps.

Maughan is a High School Social Studies teacher within East Orange. She is viewed as a leader in her scholarship area of Social Studies where she designs curricula, conducts professional development training and acts as a mentor to others.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in History and Secondary Education from Rutgers University. She went on to earn her Master’s in Administration and Supervision of Urban Schools from New Jersey City University and is currently headed for a second Master’s in American History from Pace University in New York City.

Theresa Maughan stands in classroom photo amongst her other classmates in 1971. She was the only Black child in her class. (Photo courtesy of Theresa Maughan)

In the profession for over 40 years, she was recently named the 2021-22 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year in August 2021. She was previously named Teacher of the Year at East Orange High School, East Orange Campus High School and East Orange STEM Academy. She is currently the 2021 Essex County Teacher of the Year. She was also named an Amistad Scholar by the New Jersey Amistad Commission.

Theresa Maughan stands at the car given to her as part of her New Jersey State Teacher of the Year award to assist in her travels. (Photo courtesy of Theresa Maughan)

She was honored to be among the finalists but when she won the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year award she was deeply moved. 

“Recognizing how much it meant to my students [and] my district, that was the most heartwarming, that [made] it extra special,” said Maughan.

Maughan’s colleague, Tracey Prince, described her as selfless, passionate and able to inspire others to excel.

“She makes sure not to only collaborate but to share the spotlight and accolades with all because she wants everyone to know what it’s like to have a winning season,” said Prince, who teaches History and Civics at the East Orange STEM Academy High School.

Kelly Harris, director of Africana Studies at Seton Hall University who recently worked with Maughan on the organization of the Model Gary Student Convention said he speaks for all the steering committee when he says her leadership was invaluable to the convention’s success. 

“Theresa is the epitome of professionalism and is an expert at working collaboratively,” he said. “Her expertise and experience helped us all drill down on how to best connect the Model Gary Convention to learning outcomes.”

Theresa Maughan sits amongst her colleagues at a Giants game, Jan. 2022. (From left to right) Dr. Vincent Stallings, Tracey Prince, Joe Refinski, and AbdulSaleem R. Hasan. (Photo courtesy of Theresa Maughan)

Over the past few months, Maughan has been on a sabbatical, as part of her award, which ends at the end of this month. She’s attended many conferences, given speeches and even met with President Biden and First Lady, Jill Biden at the White House—an opportunity she never imagined possible as an 11-year-old facing deportation. She’s also had the opportunity to visit other classrooms to see what happens around the state.

“You very rarely get the opportunity to visit another teacher’s classroom and see what they’re doing with their students,” she said. “I [got] to see the similarities and the differences.”

Her travels affirmed her experience and knowledge of the severe racial and economic disparities in education and learning outcomes; and the demand that she and everyone continue to work to dismantle racial and educational systemic barriers.

“There is a disparity at times with resources,” Maughan said. “And that just lets us know that we have more work to do in New Jersey, to ensure that all of our students have the same kind of classroom experience that we find in some of the other counties and other schools as well.”

A study by Rutgers University, where they conducted interviews with 21 K-12 public school teachers, found students in lower-income school districts experienced inequities in online teaching and learning opportunities, compared with students in middle-income and wealthier districts during the pandemic.

Maughan said it’s her commitment to meet and work with policymakers concerning issues like mental health, funding and equity to expand access and resources including technology. 

”We know that New Jersey has been ranked number one for several years now in the country as having the best education system,” she said. “But like other states, even though the population of our students are mostly Black, Indigenous people of color, we need to fight and support and mentor people who look like our students to have them within our classrooms.”

Theresa Maughan and a student at an elementary school in Mt. Laurel, N.J in March 2022. (Photo courtesy of Theresa Maughan)

Maughan is excited to return to the classroom and her students. She said her students have taught her so many lessons. But, motherhood has made her a better teacher.

“I look at my students the way I look at my children,” she said. “And so I’m not going to abandon them, I’m not going to give up on them, I want them to continue to see their value, [and] I want them to be willing to fail and pick themselves up and try again.”

Her immigration experience helps her to look at her students differently and is now part of her “teacher toolkit.”

“But what's in that toolkit is the fact that every one of the students who walk through my classroom door, I need to make sure that they recognize that I see them,” she said. “I want them to feel we’re developing a classroom that is safe, [and] where everyone can learn from each other.”

She hopes others in her profession are reflective, remembering that they are learners themselves and finding opportunities to grow in their classroom. After all, it is where students and teachers meet to learn some of the greatest lessons in life.

“[Teaching] is a profession that is often looked down on in recent times,” she said. “Yet we recognize that teachers have this power, this you know, ability, to help other people to grow and develop and believe in themselves.”

Correction: A previous version of this article said Ms. Maughan was invited to the White House at 11 years old. Ms. Maughan was not invited to the White House at 11 years old. The article has been corrected.