Pascack Valley choir teacher Mrs. Argine Safari has had a passion for music her whole life. However, she can pinpoint the exact moment when her passion for teaching became even stronger than that love for music.

Safari remembers one of her students who was especially passionate about music. Since the student’s father had passed away in 9/11, her family did not have the money to help her pursue it. Safari worked to help her eventually get into a top performing school in New York where the expenses were covered.

“I could not believe the feeling I had when she got into the school of  her dreams and it became a reality,” Safari said. “I felt like I helped in so many more ways than just passing on the music experience. This transformed her life.”

This is not the only student Safari has impacted. Safari has made an impression on many of her students and was recently recognized for it, as she has been appointed the 2016-2017 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year. Every year, this award recognizes one teacher for his or her exceptional characteristics as an educator.

Safari, who has been teaching at Pascack Valley for 11 years, believes it is her job as a music teacher to help students find their passion; however, she does not try to enforce pursuing a music or education career on her students.

“I truly believe that everyone has to find that path on their own. They cannot have someone telling them what they should be doing,” Safari said. “They can have someone leading them and helping them find the passion, but it’s their own decision.”

However, many of Safari’s students have actually gone on to pursue a career in music, a testament to her success as a teacher at finding such passion.

Once of Safari’s own passions is learning about other cultures. She tries to show that through the various types of music her students study because she feels that through music, students can connect to other cultures.

“The kids get a global view of what music does,” Safari said. “They understand other cultures better because they are now submerged in that culture musically.”

She also said that music helps her students connect to each other.

“The emotions we all feel together when we listen to and perform the music are unparalleled,” Safari said. “You can’t really describe the connection.”

She believes that her connection to her students is the most valuable part of her job, as well as an area that makes her stand out as a teacher.

“I truly believe that no subject can be taught if there’s no connection with the students,” Safari said. “I like to connect with my students first. I like to get to know them better. I like to understand where they’re coming from, what their needs are, and what their dreams are.”

Safari has been a musician all of her since the age of six, when she began singing and playing the piano. From there, she endured rigorous musical training as a child. She grew up in Armenia where it is very common to pursue music. Then, in 1988, Safari moved to Moscow, Russia to study music at the Moscow State Conservatory. In 1994, her family was granted refugee status and they moved to the United States.

In the U.S., she got involved with many different performing opportunities where she had the privilege to work with students. In particular, she worked with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, where she first was able to interact with children. It was here that Safari learned the pleasure of teaching.

Throughout her years, Safari’s talents have been acknowledged many times. She was honored with the Distinguished Secondary School Scholar Award from Princeton University in 2010 and was named the WorldStrides Heritage Performance Director of the Year in 2013. In addition to these honors, she has performed at large venues such as Carnegie Hall and has prepared students to perform at Madison Square Garden.

Still, Safari said the most important moments in her career have been witnessing her students succeed, such as when they win competitions or get accepted to prestigious ensembles or colleges.  

Winning the Teacher of the Year position was a rush of emotions for Safari. She describes feeling “excited, honored, and a little nervous” when hearing she was chosen.

“I honestly couldn’t believe it,” Safari said.

Starting in January, Safari will be on temporary leave from Pascack Valley to work for the State Board of Education for one year. She will be visiting other schools and speaking at events to help improve the teaching profession and the different education initiatives that are happening in the state. “I’m going to be a voice for the teaching profession,” Safari said.

She will also be working for the Arts Education Partnership in New Jersey, an organization that promotes arts education for all schools. However, with her new position she will be working with education holistically, not just the arts.

Safari is most excited to bring back to the district what she learns in the next year to improve things where possible at Pascack Valley.

The position comes with many perks. Safari has been given a Ford Fusion for the year that comes with an E-Z Pass and travel reimbursements for conferences she will attend. In addition, she will be receiving a laptop of her choice and $500 for a clothing shopping trip.

More than anything, Safari is excited for this opportunity. “The biggest perk is to be able to have a say in what happens in education today, to be able to raise your voice and speak on behalf of all the educators that are in the state.”

Safari is the newest in the list of annual winners. Last year’s winner was Chelsea Collins, who previously worked in Woodstown Pilesgrove Regional District. According to Collins, the most rewarding part of the experience was being able to go to classrooms across the state and overseas to meet great teachers.

Specifically, Collins traveled to China and Finland to learn about their education techniques. In Finland, which is one of the top performing countries in education, she learned that although the initial social structure of our classrooms might be different, New Jersey teachers are actually utilizing similar techniques as those in Finland.

Collins admits to the challenges of being in this position, especially as it requires the teacher to leave their job temporarily.

“Anything new can be challenging,” she said.

Safari herself is most concerned about missing her students.

“It’s the thing that’s been hanging over me since I first learned about this,” she said.

But she still plans to be as involved in the school as possible. There will be a replacement teacher while she is away, but she will still be reachable and active in what is happening.

Safari credits her students with much of her success.

“The students are really the reason why this whole thing happened. Their accomplishments are reflected in us as teachers,” she said.