WTHS Teacher Brittany Mason Named District Teacher of the Year
Washington Township High School social studies teacher Brittany Mason has been selected as the District’s 2018-19 Teacher of the Year, making her eligible for Gloucester County Teacher of the Year consideration. Mason has spent 10 years in education, all of them at Washington Township High School.
“The District is extremely excited and proud to announce that Brittany Mason is our 2018-19 District Teacher of the Year,” Superintendent of Schools Joe Bollendorf said. “We had a very difficult decision, as there were so many worthy candidates among our individual teachers this year. Brittany’s selection is extra special since she is also a 2004 graduate of Washington Township High School. For me personally, I have witnessed Brittany’s growth, first as a student and now as a teacher at our high school. I believe that Brittany epitomizes the definition of the word ‘teacher’. She is an active listener and communicator. She cares deeply about her students and teaches, not only through her curriculum, but more importantly, through her actions and deeds. She gives of herself completely to her profession, and this is plain to see by all around her.”
At WTHS, Mason has taught honors - and college prep- level courses in U.S. History, Tomorrow’s Teacher, Sociology and Contemporary Issues, Social Justice and Humanitarian Studies, Online Financial Literacy, and American Government, serving as a curriculum developer for the first three courses. She worked extensively to realign all WTHS social studies courses with the Common Core National Standards and NJ Social Studies Standards. Mason has worked as a professional development instructor for the LATIC classroom model, for OnCourse lesson planning and on mindfulness training, and has served as a technology instructor for PowerSchool’s Unified Classroom, Flipped Classroom Instruction and technology-based assessments, among other District initiatives. Her lesson on genocide and community outreach earned recognition from former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Mason has served as the advisor for the school’s Student Council since 2010 and has lent her expertise to the school improvement committee since 2014. She also contributes as a member of the No Place for Hate staff committee and the District Equity committee. Mason is a member of the educational technology advisory committee at the school and District level and is a practicum advisor for student teachers from Rowan University, Rutgers University, and Rowan College at Gloucester County. She is a part of the school’s SMART schedule leadership committee.
“Every day I attempt to create an environment in my classroom where students know that their circumstance are not definite, and they have an opportunity to do better,” Mason said. “My classroom has become a safe environment for many, a comfortable space where students come to share ideas, have conversations about life, and learn why social studies matters. Every lesson I teach, every resource I provide, and every interaction I have with my students is designed to provide them with meaningful opportunities to think outside the box, outside their community, even outside our nation and into the global arena. This is why I created the catch phrase ‘#BeMoreHuman.’ It is a tagline that I now use to highlight social justice lessons and acts of kindness and to remind my students that human interaction is the fundamental of life.”
“In Brittany Mason, her students and colleagues find one of the most humble and caring teachers they could ever hope to meet,” WTHS principal Jonathan Strout said. “She is a transformational educator and a true champion for children and young adults. She is a remarkable teacher, leader and mentor and most deserving of this recognition.”
Mason holds a bachelor of science degree in history with a minor in sociology from Rutgers University (2008), when she also was named Student Teacher of the Year. She earned a master’s in educational leadership from Saint Joseph’s University (2014), where she posted a 4.0 grade point average as a member of the Alpha Epsilon Lambda National Honor Society. Mason holds social studies, principal and supervisor certifications.