Sept. 18, 2025- High School South teacher Gabriel Rodriquez was surprised at school yesterday when colleague Christine Girtain gave him a package of goodies and informed him he was the beneficiary of the College Football Playoff Foundation's 2025 Extra Yard for Teachers Week (September 13-20), and was being honored for his commitment to students.
"Gabe is a great example of a teacher that goes the extra mile, or in this case yard," said Girtain who, as a former (2023) New Jersey State Teacher of the Year, was afforded the chance to honor fellow educators for the significant impact they have had on students.
Rodriguez— a South alum— is a special education teacher at the school. He also runs the Spanish Heritage Club and motivates his students to connect with the schools that feed into HSS to make their transition to high school smoother, especially for those from Spanish-speaking families.
"Gabe has been doing great work since he was a student here at South," added Girtain, who cited his service abroad and his Caring Award.
"During my education, I have been blessed with a number of teachers who have helped shape the person I am today and opened my eyes to the world around me," said Rodriguez. "Now as an educator, I try and do my part to pay it forward, and add depth to student's lives any way that I can. Whether that's through my work in the classroom, reaching out to the Hispanic community with the Hispanic Heritage Club, or any of the little things in between."