A new resource rooted deeply in New Jersey’s educational community is making its way into homes, classrooms, and counseling offices across the state. Let the Glitter Settle: Mindfulness for Teens arrives at a moment when young people are navigating unprecedented levels of stress, and its message—slow down, breathe, and let the “glitter” of overwhelming emotion settle—has already begun resonating with families and educators alike.

Written by Stefanie Lachenauer, M.Ed., the 2025 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year, the book delivers an approachable and relatable roadmap for teens working through anxiety, worry, and the mental noise that often dominates adolescence. Lachenauer draws from more than a decade of classroom experience, teaching Global Leadership and Skills for Success to middle school students, to build a guide that blends practical exercises with personal stories, journaling prompts, and emotional grounding strategies that are easy to adopt.

The book, released on October 10, 2025, is designed primarily for readers ages 10 to 18, but its reach goes far beyond teenagers. Parents looking to support their children, teachers seeking new ways to connect with students, and counselors integrating social-emotional learning into their practice will all find useful tools inside. Lachenauer positions the book as a companion as much as a resource—a quiet presence young readers can return to whenever life feels like too much.

This project is inseparable from New Jersey’s education community. Lachenauer’s work in Garden State classrooms directly informed the methods presented throughout the book. Since 2013, she has introduced students to practices that help them pause their emotional “glitter storms,” and many of those same strategies now appear on the page. Her advocacy for mental health, social-emotional learning, and mindfulness extends beyond her school, often through partnerships with New Jersey-based initiatives that champion family wellness and student support.

Her recognition as the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year highlights not only her individual accomplishments but also the collaborative spirit of the state’s Governor’s Educator of the Year program. The GEOY program honors exceptional educators from Pre-K through grade 12, moving through school-level, county-level, and ultimately state-level recognitions. Each public and charter school identifies standout teachers and educational services professionals; county offices then select honorees from these nominees; and finally, a state committee chooses the educator who will serve as ambassador for all New Jersey teachers.

Nominees for these honors must demonstrate exceptional skill, leadership, collaboration, and a consistent ability to inspire students of all backgrounds. They must be licensed educators with effective or highly effective evaluations and may not have held a Teacher of the Year title within the past five years. The resulting honoree represents the profession statewide and participates in presentations, educational initiatives, and national programming supported by the New Jersey Department of Education, NJEA, NJSBA, and ETS.

Lachenauer served as the 2024–2025 State Teacher of the Year, and her successor, Gillian Ober—an English as a Second Language teacher from Monmouth County—has been named the 2025–2026 recipient. Their recognition underscores the depth of talent and dedication found in New Jersey’s schools and highlights the strong culture of support for mental health and student-centered learning that defines the state’s educational landscape.

For New Jersey families interested in weaving mindfulness, wellness, and emotional balance into their daily routines, Explore New Jersey’s lifestyle coverage offers additional resources and community connections. As conversations about youth stress and mental health continue to expand, Let the Glitter Settle stands as a meaningful, homegrown contribution—one shaped in New Jersey classrooms and built to help the next generation breathe a little easier.

The New Jersey Teacher of the Year program is part of the state’s larger Governor’s Educator of the Year (GEOY) program, designed to recognize and honor outstanding educators in public schools (Pre-K to grade 12) across New Jersey. 

The program aims to identify educators who exhibit exceptional skill, an inspiring presence, and a positive impact on students, colleagues, and the school community. 

Program Structure & Process. The selection process moves through multiple levels: school, county, and state. 

• School Level: Each public or charter school is encouraged to select one Teacher of the Year and one Educational Services Professional of the Year. The deadline for schools to register their 2025-2026 honorees was December 5, 2025.
• County Level: The county offices of education select a County Teacher of the Year from the pool of school-level winners.
• State Level: A state-level committee reviews the county winners to select the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year. 

Key Criteria: To be nominated, educators must be licensed classroom teachers (or eligible educational services professionals) with a primary teaching role and a summative evaluation rating of at least “Effective” or “Highly Effective”. They should be experts in their field, capable of inspiring diverse students, and actively collaborate with colleagues, students, and families. Nominees should also show leadership and innovation, be respected by the school community, and must not have received a “Teacher of the Year” title in the past five years. 

The Role of the State Teacher of the Year: The State Teacher of the Year serves as an ambassador for the profession, collaborating with the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) and participating in statewide presentations and national conferences. 

The 2024-2025 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year is Stefanie Lachenauer. Gillian Ober, an English as a Second Language teacher from Monmouth County, has been named the 2025-2026 recipient. 

The program is a joint effort of the NJDOE, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), and Educational Testing Services (ETS).