Hannah Olmo Honored by DHS, Morris County

Acclaimed Fine Arts/Dance teacher named best for 2025-26 school year.

DHS Fine Arts/ Dance teacher Hannah Olmo, center, is surrounded by family and students as she is recognized for her dual Teacher of the Year awards. (Photo/Karen Fucito)

The Dover High School community surprised Fine Arts/Dance teacher Hannah Olmo with the news that, in addition to earning Teacher of the Year status at DHS, Morris County also named her the Governor's Educator of the Year.

She was celebrated by students, fellow teachers, and administrators. DHS Principal Johanna Ross celebrated Olmo's accomplishment with the following comments:

"It is with tremendous pride and absolute conviction that I share that not only has Ms. Hannah Olmo won DHS Teacher of the Year, but she has been selected for the County Teacher of the Year!  Hannah is an educator whose talent, devotion, and impact reach far beyond the walls of her classroom. She is, in every sense, the embodiment of exceptional teaching, demonstrated through high-quality instruction, extraordinary student learning outcomes, and a transformative influence on school culture.

When the Supervisor of Fine Arts at Dover hired Hannah seven years ago to launch our first-ever dance program, we needed a visionary, someone capable of building a program from the ground up with purpose, passion, and skill. She exceeded every hope we had. She crafted a curriculum fully aligned with the NJSLS for the Visual and Performing Arts and uniquely tailored to the interests, needs, and identities of our students. Since that time, her supervisor shares that “I had the honor of supervising her and witnessing firsthand how she has woven herself into the fabric of our school, serving not only as a teacher, but as a leader, mentor, choreographer, and driver of student well-being.”

Olmo's students perform a special dance routine in her honor. (Photo/Karen Fucito)

Under her direction, our dance program has expanded rapidly, growing from Dance I and II to a full four-level sequence, as student interest soared. She also established our chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, which has been running continuously since its inception. Her co-curricular programs, Dance Club and Latin Mix, have been honored at both the Morris County Teen Arts Festival and at the state level. The size of the Dance Club alone has increased by over 300% in the last two years, a testament to the program’s reputation and the magnetic draw of her teaching.

What distinguishes Hannah most is her unwavering commitment to teaching the whole child. Students consistently describe her as supportive, caring, and life-changing. One student shared, “Ms. Olmo has always been a very loving and supportive teacher—she genuinely could be my second mother.” Another wrote, “She teaches responsibility, self-reliance, and teamwork better than anyone I’ve ever seen. She caters to our social-emotional learning and teaches us to be better people.”

Her classroom is a safe, joyful community, one that fosters confidence, creativity, and belonging. As another student expressed, “Her class feels alive and full of energy. She helped me see potential in myself I never knew I had.” Thanks to her guidance, students develop not only technical skill but emotional resilience, artistic identity, and a deep love of learning.

Her colleagues echo these sentiments. One staff member shared, “There is no teacher who cares more about her students or her subject. Her passion is unmatched.” Another noted, “Her rapport, expectations, and compassion create one of the most effective, nurturing environments I’ve ever seen.” Her impact is so profound that when she became choreographer for our spring musical, student participation doubled, an outcome driven entirely by the trust and admiration she inspires.

Hannah’s influence extends far beyond our building. She and her dancers perform each year at community events, including the Cultural Connections Festival in downtown Dover. She leads our annual dance concert, an event that now draws the largest audience of any fine or performing arts performance in the district. She empowers students to take ownership of choreography, costume design, and production elements, creating one of the most successful, student-led projects I have ever witnessed. She and her students also visit our elementary schools to teach hip-hop to third graders, igniting early passion for dance and belonging.

Parents feel this impact deeply as well. One shared, “Through her dedication, creativity, and kindness, she has inspired my daughter to believe in herself. The confidence she gives students is outstanding.”

Hannah’s professional excellence is matched only by her character. She is consistently described as kind, optimistic, resourceful, and deeply committed to the well-being of every student. She is the teacher students go to for support, the colleague staff rely on, and the teacher families know. As one student perfectly summarized, “Mrs. Olmo is far more than a teacher, she is an inspiration, a mentor, and a guiding light.”

Our school would not be the same without Hannah Olmo. She has elevated our arts programs, strengthened our culture, and positively shaped the lives of hundreds of students. She is an extraordinary educator, one of the finest,  and she is profoundly deserving of this honor."