By Kelly Nicholaides
Samantha Tyrka Sansone plays a pivotal role in her students’ education, inspiring them to develop their unique styles and critical thinking skills. KHS junior Sumaiya Ouali nominated Sansone for the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) Educator of Distinction for her impact.
“She explains even the most confusing lesson in a way that makes sense, and she makes learning fun and engaging,” Ouali says. “What really makes her stand out though, is how much she genuinely cares about her students. She proves that being an amazing teacher is not just about lessons and grades, it’s about listening, supporting, and inspiring students to grow both academically and personally.”
A journalist-turned-reading specialist and writing and literature teacher, Sansone brings a blend of media industry experience to her role as a Kearny educator over the past 14 years. She grew up in Kearny, attended private schools, and studied abroad in Rome. She curated city guides for the Washington Post and covered community news as a freelancer for North Jersey Media Group before switching gears to education.
Tapping into her news background, she encourages differentiated instruction and collaboration through the nonfiction pieces. One activity she frequently utilizes is “jigsawing” nonfiction articles. Through the activity, multilingual learners, special education students, and honors students work together to dissect articles by breaking them into sections, reading closely, annotating the work, and then writing higher-order thinking questions. These “hot” questions can be improved with artificial intelligence as a guide. Students then teach their section to their peers.
“When students are working together and taking ownership of their learning, they aren’t bored. Students pay more attention and have more of a buy-in when they are working collaboratively, rather than just passively listening to a lecture,” Sansone says.
To help students develop their voice and their understanding of tone, Sansone uses another lesson based on the 2017 National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman’s inspirational poem “The Hill We Climb” about unity and resilience, spoken during President Joe Biden’s inauguration. “I try to show students how writing shapes the way we see the world and society,” she explains.
Developing one’s voice for a variety of audiences is a critical communication tool, she notes. “I teach them to be aware of code switching,” Sansone says. “You don’t talk the same way with friends and parents, on job interviews and in other settings.”
Utilizing a variety of writing tools helps her students become comfortable writing for any audience and purpose. For persuasive essays, Sansone assigns topics such as vaping, vaccines, and other hot-button issues.
Managing a classroom full of adolescents is challenging. Sansone’s approach teaches students to take ownership of their education. They get what they put in. When their personal lives clash with deadlines, Sansone believes it is important to hold students to high standards while also being flexible and aware of their personal lives.
“Students need accountability for their behavior and successes,” she says. “They may say I’m tough. Yes, I am. You’re not going to do well unless you feel challenged. I try to make it fun and engaging. They respond better when you show them you care about their lives. Students are trying to balance academics with helping to raise siblings, play soccer, and work part-time.”
Living in Kearny with her husband, Robert, and their daughter, Mackenzie, a first grader in Kearny Public Schools, Sansone posts about her idyllic Garden State family life: celebrating their child’s educational milestones, Jersey shore summers, and winter fun building a snowman. Her messages about kindness and being a good listener indicate the values that make her a great teacher.
She holds a Master of Arts in Reading from Montclair State University, Master of Arts in Humanities and Social Thought from New York University, and Bachelor of Arts in Communications-Print Journalism and Marketing from American University.
Since the NSHSS Educator of Distinction program began in 2007, more than 75,000 educators, including teachers, counselors, and administrators, have been recognized worldwide. They are outstanding role models and exemplary practitioners who have made a lasting difference in students’ lives by encouraging them to strive for excellence in academic pursuits and all endeavors.
“This recognition reflects what we already see: a teacher who consistently shows up for students and delivers strong instruction,” said Dr. Danyel Cicarelli, KHS Supervisor of English. “The honor simply affirms the commitment and care that define their work here, and we’re grateful to have them on our team.”