Manalapan Kindergarten Teacher is Library of Congress Teacher-in-Residence

Congressman Chris Smith and Teresa St. Angelo

Each year the Library of Congress (LoC) chooses a Teacher-in-Residence to serve in Washington for one year. For the 2016-2017 school year, that one person will be Teresa St. Angelo of Freehold Township, N.J., Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) said today.

Teresa St. Angelo, a kindergarten teacher in Manalapan will work with its Educational Outreach office to help teachers and school librarians incorporate the Library’s digitized primary sources into high-quality instruction. The Educational Outreach office is responsible for directing and developing the Library’s efforts to make its resources accessible, relevant and compelling to the nation’s K-12 community to bring the Library’s resources to classrooms across the country.

“In the 16 years since the Library of Congress began the ‘Teacher-in-Residence’ program,’ this is the first year that an early elementary educator has been selected for this opportunity and I am proud that that person comes from New Jersey’s Fourth Congressional District,” said Smith, who was notified by the LoC Sept. 9. “Ms. St. Angelo already has a distinguished career and this is certainly a feather in her cap. Manalapan, Monmouth County and all of New Jersey should be proud that she has achieved this honor and will be in a position to help educators across the country.”

Ms. St. Angelo has been a kindergarten teacher with the Manalapan-Englishtown School District for 18 years, earning her B.A. from Rutgers University, and her M.S. in Special Education from Walden University. She previously taught both preschoolers and undergraduate students in the Rutgers Nutritional Sciences Preschool. Ms. St. Angelo also produced and presented children’s programs combining stories with the stars at Ocean County College Planetarium; she was presented with a Teacher of the Year Governor’s Award in her school district and has been recognized by NASA for contributing to children’s education. She is also a published author of children’s literature, and participated in the Library of Congress Summer Teacher Institute in 2011.

Each year the LoC Teacher-in-Residence is tasked with a project to benefit their home school or school district to be implemented during the following academic year. Ms. St. Angelo will create primary-source portfolios for teachers in grades K-2.

“Using primary sources in the classroom allows a teacher to engage every student, of every level to develop critical thinking skills while analyzing an authentic piece of history,” St. Angelo said. “The Library of Congress has a digitized collection that teachers can use to create and enhance lessons of interest, intrigue, and intelligence. Spending this year as Teacher in Residence allows me the amazing opportunity to research, collaborate with expert staff, and enjoy the incredible history housed at the Library of Congress.”

To be considered for the Teacher-in-Residence position, candidates from across the country must submit an application along with a resume, project plan, letters of recommendation and a letter from a school or district authorizing official approving the personnel agreement. Applications are evaluated based on the teacher’s creativity and willingness to contribute to the educational community, as evidenced by description of past activities and recommendation letters, and the feasibility and value of the proposed project.

“I am grateful that as a Member of Congress I can use the resources of the Library of Congress regularly for research, analysis, or just simply checking out books for my work on Capitol Hill,” Smith said. “I have found its Congressional Research Service absolutely invaluable. I am sure that Teresa will find her year with the Library of Congress to be an informative one. The LoC will learn from Teresa’s years of teaching experience on the job, and we expect their digital programs will be better as a result of their partnership with Ms. St. Angelo.”

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world. It offers access to both the record of United States history—past, present and future—and extensive materials from around the world on location in Washington as well as online. The LoC is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress through its Congressional Research Service. Collections, reference services and other programs and information about visiting the library can be found at loc.gov. The LoC official site for U.S. federal legislative information iscongress.gov, and registration on works of authorship can be found at copyright.gov., and use if its specialized educational resources can be found at loc.gov/teachers/.