John DeBarberie is the first to admit that he was not a particularly inspired high school student, and lacked a definite direction upon entering William Paterson University in 1999.  But it was in college where he encountered an English professor who sparked a passion for literature and teaching.

 He states, “I thought, if I had a teacher like that in high school, I might have been inspired sooner.”

Inspiration is exactly what he brings to his students every day at Red Bank Regional as a Freshman Academy English and AVID teacher. He served as advisor to the Class of 2012 and advisor to the Better Bucs.  He also taught at RBR’s Summer Slam program to help incoming freshmen better transition to the rigors of high school   
  
RBR Principal Risa Clay states of RBR’s Teacher of the Year, “Mr. DeBarberie has the expertise to make a classroom come alive. He engages his students each day with his quick wit and his unbelievable sense of humor. He is one of the first teachers students meet as a member of the Freshman Academy. He has dedicated himself to our school through his work with the AVID program and as a class advisor. John has mentored countless students during his years at RBR and been an optimist and positive force at our school.” 

Mr. DeBarberie attended graduate school and completed a post-baccalaureate program for K-12 Subject Field Certification. 

He believes a good teacher should possess both a good sense of humor and a persistent dedication even when a student might seem resistant to the teacher’s efforts.

He adds, “It is so rewarding when that patience pays off and that student comes around.”  
 
RBR Congratulates our 2013 Teacher of the Year, JohnDeBarberie.