Weston Awards: Meet Nishuane Special Ed Teacher Regina Polzella

This is the latest in our series spotlighting the winners of the 2025 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching. Follow along each week to learn more about the impact these educators are making in the Montclair Public Schools.

+++

Good teachers give 100 percent every day. 

Great teachers give a little more. 

But inspired teachers, like Nishuane Elementary School special education teacher Regina Polzella, give "ten thousand percent," at least that’s according to those who nominated her for this award.

You want evidence? Nominators said:

Polzella is always the first one to volunteer. 

She is the first one to provide a solution to a difficult problem. 

And the first one to make sure she’s available to her students in any way. 

She works hard on her lesson plans and her presentations. And she gets to know her students, making sure they have the tools they need to succeed. 

Ms. Polzella was described as a brilliant reading and literacy teacher, who takes time to teach the fundamentals. 

“My son comes home daily repeating funny stories of silent ‘E’s and letters jumping over others. He is very engaged with the process. In just half a year, he was sounding out and reading. I love how excited she gets when her students succeed. Her attitude is always positive!” one parent wrote. 

Other nomination letters called Ms. Polzella “a lifelong learner,” who is committed to continuing her education, attending Fairleigh Dickinson University to get her Orton Gillingham Certification to provide multi-sensory learning to all students.

Ms. Polzella, for making reading accessible and fun, for keeping parents updated above and beyond what is expected, and for being a presence that lights up the classroom and ignites young minds, the Montclair community is proud to call you an inspired teacher.

Congratulations.