VTHS drama teacher recognized for excellence

VERNON — Barri Weinstein, the drama teacher at Vernon Township High School, has been selected as the New Jersey Outstanding Teacher in Arts Education by the New Jersey Governor’s Awards in Arts Education.

Weinstein began her career as an actress, performing on stage, television and films. As a member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG/AFTRA, she spent many years in television, feature films, of course, her first love, the theater. Her theater roles included appearances as Jenny opposite Academy-Award winner Mercedes Cambridge in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, as Bianca in Othello, starring Cedric Scott, as well as in the John Reich production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

After graduating from the University of Miami with a BFA in Theatre, Weinstein returned to New Jersey and began teaching at Arts High School, the oldest performing arts high school in the country. After five years, she left to enter the business world, only to return to her beloved theater.

Weinstein became the director of drama at Vernon Township High School in 2000, and has been teaching and directing there ever since. She has produced 28 full-length productions at Vernon and continued her affiliation as a STANJ Board Member and as a NJ Thespian Board Member and Workshop Coordinator.

Weinstein has also directed a production at the International Fringe Festival in Scotland, and has received numerous awards as a director and teacher.