Kimberley Briles has spent nearly three decades in education, but for the Cedar Creek High School social studies teacher, teaching has never been simply about what happens inside a classroom.
Briles, who has taught in the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District since 2004, was recently named Atlantic County Teacher of the Year for the 2026-2027 school year. She was among 21 educators from across the state recognized by the New Jersey Department of Education at an awards ceremony at The College of New Jersey in Ewing.
“The County Teachers of the Year exemplify the excellence, creativity and dedication that define the teaching profession in New Jersey,” said Dr. Lily Laux, commissioner of education, in an Aug. 11 press release. “School can change the trajectory of a child’s life — and great teachers are the heart of that change, providing students with meaningful learning opportunities that make them feel safe, supported, and successful. We are proud to celebrate these educators and the positive influence they have on countless students and families.”
Briles is the second employee at the high school to be named the county’s teacher of the year. She said receiving the honor was both surprising and humbling.
That humility stems from how she views her career.
Although she was the one to receive the honor, Briles was quick to point to the colleagues, administrators and students who have helped shape her work.
“I was very shocked and humbled, and had this imposter syndrome…There are great people around me. There’s nothing I’ve done in education that I did on my own,” she said.
Briles began her teaching career at Delsea Regional High School in 1999, where she spent five years before moving to Absegami High School. In 2014, she transferred to Cedar Creek in Egg Harbor City after returning to her hometown of Glassboro to help care for her intellectually disabled sister, for whom she and another sibling are guardians.
The move came with a longer commute, but Briles said she has never regretted it.
“I love where I work,” she said. “Sometimes people have jobs or work in places that are not good for their soul. But I work in a place that I genuinely love the people I work with.”
Her passion for teaching is also closely tied to her family. Briles grew up as one of seven children, and she remembers helping her older sister with schoolwork around the kitchen table. Her father, who did not attend college but worked his way from operating machines at Scott Paper to becoming a supervisor, encouraged her to consider teaching.
“And of course, I probably said no,” she said, with a chuckle.
He also loved history — a passion Briles eventually shared.
Today, Briles teaches U.S. history and government, including AP Government. She said she is particularly passionate about helping students understand the Constitution and develop the ability to engage with difficult topics.
Lessons beyond the classroom
Aside from the academic curriculum, what she hopes her students take away from her classroom is to find ways to be involved in their communities, as well as in government and politics.
To Briles, that involvement also means learning how to disagree respectfully.
“Having some ability to have a conversation that is civil is something we’re struggling with as a society,” she said.
That focus on civic engagement came to life through a schoolwide “We the People” campaign and election that Briles helped organize. Students participated in a full-scale campaign and debate, with real voting machines used for the school community’s election. The initiative was developed with support from organizations including Engaging Young Voters, the League of Women Voters and the Atlantic County Superintendent of Elections.
One classroom moment within the past year reinforced for Briles why that work matters.
After discussing the events surrounding 9/11 and the assassination of Charlie Kirk the day prior, Briles asked her students, “Are you guys going to be OK?”
The classroom grew quiet, and then a hand rose in the air.
“Mrs. Briles, we got this,” that student said.
The response, Briles said, brought her nearly to tears. The students went on to discuss what they could do and what their generation could do to make things better.
“And I can almost cry right now thinking about it because it meant so much to me, and it was so early in the year,” she said.
Briles will also be leading “Creek 250,” a celebration for the 250th anniversary of the country, and a learning experience for the 25th anniversary of 9/11 on how the day changed the country.
Scott Parker, principal at Cedar Creek High School, described Briles as a leader — with both her students and peers.
“She’s very good at finding creative ways to provide engaging experiences for her students,” he said. “I think the stuff she’s done to engage students over the last couple of years has really stood out. For many years, she was our union president, and was really excellent at building relationships with the adults. And she’s always done it with the kids, but you really started to see that flourish over the last several years.”
Outside of her classroom, Briles has helped build relationships with her colleagues while serving as president of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional Education Association for seven years, representing 400 educators.
She also led professional learning opportunities for her peers, including “Novel Ideas,” a professional development book club that brings teachers from different disciplines together to read, discuss difficult topics and participate in educational field trips.
After nearly 28 years in the classroom, Briles said the most rewarding part of teaching remains her students.
“I enjoy kids. They make me laugh,” she said. “I just think every day it’s like, ‘What funny thing’s going to happen?’ or ‘What amazing thing is going to happen?’”
And that, she said, is what keeps teaching fun.
Julia graduated from Rider University in 2024 with a BA in multiplatform journalism and minor in social media strategies. In addition to reporting on local news for Shore Local, she is a social media strategist for small businesses. Connect with her: shorelocaljulia@gmail.com or @juliatrain on Instagram.
