From the moment her rambunctious preschoolers arrive, instructional assistant Angela Feliciano tends to their every need, doling out lessons and discipline.
Affectionately known as Miss Angie at the Riletta Twyne Cream Early Childhood Center in Camden, Feliciano has been a classroom assistant for nearly 30 years. She is also working to become a teacher soon.
Feliciano has received accolades for her dedication and was recently recognized by the New Jersey Education Association as its Educational Support Professional of the Year for 2025-2026.
She is the first instructional assistant from Camden schools to get the recognition. She will represent New Jersey later this month at the National Education Association’s ESP conference in Anaheim, Calif.
“She’s the first from Camden. It’s a proud moment,” said Camden Education Association President Pamela Clark, who represents about 1,050 teachers and support staff, including secretaries, clerks, bus drivers, custodians, and security officers.
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Clark nominated Feliciano, a childhood friend, for the award. Feliciano is well-liked by students, respected by parents in the community, and puts in extra effort to encourage learning, she said.
Nominees were considered based on their professional practices, advocacy and association involvement, community engagement, personal achievement, and how well they advance the image of support professionals.
“I’m representing Camden. Not just bad things happen in Camden,” Feliciano said.
Principal Medinah Dyer credited Feliciano with boosting preschool enrollment at Cream from about 120 students to 350 in three to four years. Feliciano attended weekend events to encourage parents to enroll their children.
Feliciano purchases toiletries and items for students in need, and has been an advocate for children who experienced trauma or have behavioral issues, Dyer said. She is the first to arrive at school, and the last to leave, she said.
“She is a role model for both students and staff, and her contributions have made our school a better place for everyone, Dyer wrote in her nomination letter.
During a recent morning at Cream, located in the city’s Centerville section, Feliciano and teacher Carrie Hiatt were in full swing with 15 preschoolers. The students are 3 to 5 years old.
Feliciano and Hiatt crisscrossed the room, working with small groups of students for music instruction and reading. Feliciano sat on the floor with her charges or in tiny chairs to talk with them at eye level.
In one corner, Feliciano played a game with a boy, pretending it was her birthday.
“How old are you?” he asked.
“I’m 7 years old,” she replied with a smile.
Feliciano moved to different stations, engaging in dramatic play with a student, donning miniature clothes. At one point, she used a puppet for a letter exercise.
“I just come to work and do what I do,” said Feliciano. “They’re my kids from 8:40 a.m. to 3 o’clock.”
The entire class stood in place for a lively round of “Head, shoulders, knees and toes,” an exercise song that had the giggling preschoolers and Feliciano huffing and puffing.
“That was so hard,” gasped a preschooler.
The preschoolers spend the entire day in the classroom with Feliciano and Hiatt. The pair served lunch — chicken, rice, and plantains — while jazz played softly in the background.
“She goes out of her way to make this place special for the kids,” said Hiatt. “She is excellent, an amazing teammate.”
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Feliciano was born and raised in Camden. After graduating from Camden County Technical School, she worked for two years as a data processor.
It was always her dream to become a teacher, and she got a chance in 1989 when she joined the district as a paraprofessional. She has worked with older children, but enjoys the little children the best.
“I love to see them grow,” she said. “I love when they grasp things, and they look at me and smile.”
Feliciano, 53, now lives in Pennsauken and has acquired the credentials to become a teacher, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wilmington University.
She still needs to pass the New Jersey Praxis exam to obtain her teaching certification, which has been a challenge. She has taken the exam three times and failed — the last time by a single point.
Feliciano plans to take the exam again this spring. She has been studying vigorously and getting coaching from Hiatt. She hopes to inspire other paraprofessionals.
“We are the core of the building. If it wasn’t for us, teachers wouldn’t be able to teach,” Feliciano said.
Hiatt said Feliciano has already demonstrated an ability to prepare lessons, manage the classroom, and reach students. She believes she will be a great teacher, but would miss having her in her classroom.
Married and the mother of two adult sons, Feliciano said she wants to remain in the classroom for many years, hopefully as a teacher.
“I’m not ready to go. I don’t want to leave the babies yet,” she said.