Two Top Educators Join Forces, Friendship, at Ocean City High School

By Maddy Vitale Two teachers who have proven they have that special talent to touch the lives and minds of students joined forces, albeit just for a day, to teach a class at the Ocean City High School. Ocean City High School American Sign Language teacher Amy Andersen, who won the 2018 New Jersey Teacher of the Year award, invited National Teacher of the Year, Mandy Manning, of Spokane, Washington, to stay at her home since the two were attending a weekend state teachers’ conference in Princeton. “It didn’t take much convincing,” Manning said with a smile about Andersen’s invitation. The two of them chatted in between Andersen’s ASL classes Thursday afternoon. Manning, 42, teaches immigrants and refugees math and English at the Newcomer Center at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington. Her connection to Andersen runs deeper than the fact that they were both selected the best teachers in their home states in 2018. Mandy Manning signs with students. When Andersen notified the school of Manning’s attendance in her classroom, she explained how Manning had two students from Syria, a couple of years ago, who were born deaf. Manning arranged for their family to take an ASL class. To encourage their mother, Manning offered to attend the ASL class and did so for an entire year. During Andersen’s class, Manning spoke to the students about how they represent hope and how in her 19 years of teaching, connecting to children has always been her goal. “My kids do well because of my commitment. Socially, we have to be more interested in people,” she said. Then she said one thing that really struck her when she arrived in Ocean City was a feeling of community. “When I look around, there are front porches,” Manning said. “That excited me. People need to know their neighbors.” She told the students that teaching refugees and immigrants is important to the nation, which was built on people coming to America from all over. Students are engaged in signing during ASL teacher Amy Andersen's lesson. Student Kayla Killian asked Manning what it has been like for her as National Teacher of the Year. Manning replied that it has been rewarding, but difficult, because the very thing that elevated her to top teacher in the nation took her away from her classroom to work on national education objectives. “I miss my kids. You’re not mine, but your mine,” Manning said with a chuckle. “Young people are the hope of the world.” Then it was Andersen’s turn at the head of the classroom, a place New Jersey’s top teacher in 2018 feels right at home. She signed to her students that it was time for “voice off.” Then they got down to business. During the lesson the students broke off into groups and their teacher, Amy Andersen, joined in. Andersen drew pictures on the whiteboard, had the students sign the answers and then they broke off into groups. Manning laughed while having difficulty with one of the signing lessons.  The two women teach very different subjects, but they seem to have a lot in common. Their teachings resonate with hundreds of young students. For Manning, her former students visit her and proudly tell her how they gained United States citizenship. Andersen’s students have gone on to college to continue their training to teach ASL. They are following in their mentor’s footsteps. Visiting Ocean City and especially getting to see Andersen teach is a wonderful memory Manning said she will treasure. “It has really been an amazing time,” Manning said. Andersen certainly feels the same way, saying how great her friend is, as the two hugged. National Teacher of the Year for 2018, Mandy Manning, with sophomore, Lex Larcher, 15, who sketched a picture of her during the ASL class as a token of appreciation for her visit.