Mainland Regional High School teacher Bernadette Daley has been named the Atlantic County Teacher of the Year for 2012-13, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) announced on Monday, Sept. 17.

Daley was among 20 county and state teachers of the year announced on Monday, NJDOE said.

“Most of us know how humbling and awe-inspiring it is to be a student or a colleague of an excellent teacher – these are the individuals who have the power and skill to change lives and bring out the best in us all," Commissioner of Education Chris Cerf said in a release.  "I’d like to congratulate Bernadette Daley for being named Atlantic Teacher of the Year for 2012-13. I’m proud that through our teacher of the year selection process, which begins at the school and district levels, many more Atlantic teachers are recognized and celebrated for the outstanding jobs they are doing for our children.”

According to NJDOE, Daley was selected at the by panels representing a cross-section of administrators, teachers, parents and county education association representatives convened by the executive county superintendents of schools.

She submitted a written application and 15-minute video to NJDOE, and that video was reviewed by a state-level panel of educators who make the final selection of the 2012-13 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year, NJDOE said. That selection will be made in October, and the winner will represent New Jersey in the national competition.

Daley has been at Mainland since 2001, and began teaching in 1999, according to NJDOE. She teaches Business Technology courses, including Web Design, Advanced Web Design, Digital Imaging, Action Script with Flash, Visual BASIC, Personal Finance and Freshmen Seminar, among others.

She also coaches girls' lacrosse, is the advisor for the Photography Club, a member of the school’s Liaison Committee, Technology Committee and Curriculum Development Committee, according to NJDOE.

In 1989, she graduated from Salisbury State University, where she played basketball and lacrosse. She earned her master's degree in Instructional Technology from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in 2003, and her Supervisor's Certificate in 2004.

New Jersey’s 2012-13 County Teachers of the year and State Facility Teacher of the Year are as follows: