Two NJCU College of Education Teacher Candidates Named Among Top 15 Clinical Interns Statewide
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | The (NJCU) Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education is proud to announce that two of its teacher candidates have been selected as recipients of the prestigious New Jersey Distinguished Clinical Intern Award for 2025. Sofia Asali and Sofia Kanakaki both received the award with distinction, placing them among the top 15 clinical interns in the entire state of New Jersey.
The New Jersey Distinguished Clinical Intern Award is an annual recognition program administered by the New Jersey Department of Education that honors outstanding preservice teachers completing their teacher preparation programs across the state. The competitive selection process involves internal nominations, and comprehensive application reviews and evaluation using a series of rubrics provided by the state education department.
Sofia Asali, an English education major, completed her clinical internship at Union City High School under the mentorship of Brian Belluzzi. Reflecting on her experience, Asali emphasized how her NJCU preparation equipped her for real-world teaching challenges.
"I truly could not have imagined spending my undergraduate career anywhere else, and I am so grateful for having my clinical practice placement in Union City, N.J.," Asali said. "With the help of the staff and professors in both the English and Education departments, I was able to use what I had learned in my courses to teach my students lessons that they can use beyond the classroom."
Asali will begin her teaching career this fall as an English teacher at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, N.J.
Sofia Kanakaki served as a third-grade teacher intern at Dr. Walter F. Robinson Community School in Bayonne, working under the guidance of Kim Largmann. Kanakaki credited NJCU's comprehensive tv system and innovative Teacher Intern Program as key factors in her development as an educator.
"NJCU gave me more than an education; it gave me a community," Kanakaki explained. "Through its unique Teacher Intern Program, I gained classroom experience well before starting clinical practice. The monthly professional development workshops challenged me to reflect deeply and rethink what effective teaching looks like. My professors, who I also think of as mentors, were all experienced educators who modeled engaging, student-centered instruction and consistently approached us with empathy.”
In September, Kanakaki will teach third grade at James F. Murray School - PS #38 in Jersey City.
The selection process was overseen by NJCU's Distinguished Clinical Intern Award Committee, chaired by Michelle Tinglin, Assistant Director of the Center for Teacher Preparation and Partnership. The committee, which included faculty members Dr. Dana Mason, Dr. Michelle Rosen, Joeline Sanders, Dr. Chris Shamburg, Dr. Belinda Stokes, and Brandi Warren, reviewed multiple nominations from cooperating supervisors and College of Education faculty.
Both award recipients and their cooperating teachers were honored at the recognition ceremony held June 4th at Kean University.
"These outstanding achievements reflect the excellence of our teacher preparation programs and the dedication of our students," said Dr. Michelle Rosen, the Chairperson and an Associate Professor in the Department of Literacy Education.. "We are immensely proud of Sofia Asali and Sofia Kanakaki as they begin their teaching careers and represent the caliber of educators NJCU produces. We wish them much luck.”
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New Jersey City University is a comprehensive public regional institution committed to providing a high-quality education to a diverse student population. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, NJCU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and tvive environment for learning, professional development, and community engagement. Consistent with our mission, NJCU is recognized as a top university for improving upward economic social tv, ensuring students enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally tvive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.
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