Sussex County Teacher of the Year inspires students

Christine O’Brien-Mase, the Sussex County Teacher of the Year for 2022-23, did not start out to be a teacher.

O’Brien-Mase, who teaches art and photography at Sparta High School, worked as a professional photographer and mural painter for theaters and private homes after college.

Her interest in teaching was sparked while working part-time at the Boys and Girls Club in Hoboken.

Inspired by her mother, Deborah O’Brien, a music teacher at Reverend George A. Brown Memorial School in Sparta, and her best friend, Nancy Chamberlain, a music teacher at Sparta Middle School, she switched her career focus to art education.

She became an alternate-route art teacher in her late 30s.

“Christine’s educational background in set design, photography, art therapy, and her ability to teach coursework in any and all mediums makes her an invaluable asset to the art department,” said Jamie Barker, vice principal at the high school.

“(She) models the ambition and motivation to continuously progress that inspires our students, ultimately growing our AP art program over the past few years. She challenges students to discover themselves and their interests and talents, and her passion and energy is contagious.”

Sarah Yarnall, a senior enrolled in AP Drawing, taught by O’Brien-Mase, said, “I love how my class has become a community of friends and creators. We have all grown this year, and it is amazing to see everyone’s skills and creative eyes develop.”

Teaching philosophy

O’Brien-Mase’s teaching philosophy focuses on mental health and fostering an environment where students can be authentic and express themselves freely.

She believes in teaching from the inside out and encourages students to be brave, forgiving and receptive to the artistic mediums that resonate with them. “The medium chooses you; it whispers to you, so you have to listen.”

She frequently brings in guest speakers and industry professionals to expose her students to real-world applications of art. For example, the Sparta Historical Society brought a Model T Ford for students to draw and photograph.

Madeline Abatemarco, a 2015 Sparta High School graduate, spoke to students about her job as a production manager at the Cartoon Network in Los Angeles. And Leon Hill, a UX design manager at Verizon, gave workshops on designing user-friendly platforms and graphic design logos.

“Christine is the first to seek out resources to provide students with artistic experiences that venture beyond the walls of our high school building,” Barker said. “She brings in guest speakers and arranges field trips to continuously provide students with opportunities.

“In addition, she has written grants and advocated on behalf of the art department in order to grow programming to meet 21st-century demands. Through her efforts, we have expanded our drawing program to include 2D digital design; we have state-of-the-art photography resources; and our school walls are painted with beautiful murals designed and created by her art classes. She also creates the connections and forums that allow our students opportunities to earn accolades, awards and careers in the artistic field.”

She also secured new equipment, such as cameras, art display walls, high-tech drawing boards and MacBooks, and she established the National Art Honor Society. In addition, she is a founding member of the diversity team at the high school.

Sparta High graduate

Raised in Sussex County, O’Brien-Mase is a Sparta High School graduate.

She thanked her husband and three children for helping to make her a better person and artist. “My own children continually provide me an understanding of what it is like to be a student and contemporary learning that is meaningful.”

She also credited the support she receives from the school administration, colleagues, students and parents.

“Sparta is quite supportive of education and implementing the arts. (Superintendent) Dr. (Matthew) Beck, (Assistant Superintendent) Tara Rossi, (Principal) Dr. (Edward) Lazarra and Jamie Barker have been integral to my success. However, Dr. (Kathleen) Monks, Mr. (Dennis) Tobin and Dr. (Daniel) Johnson were also major contributors.”

O’Brien-Mase regularly takes courses and attends workshops to further her contemporary arts and education knowledge.

Currently, she is completing a post-baccalaureate degree at Kean University, focusing on teaching the Holocaust and identifying prejudice in the classroom.