... and now, for something completely different.
A little bit about myself....
Mr. Peter J. De Kleine is a life long New Jersey resident who has lived in both Sussex and Warren Counties. Growing up on Lake Hopatcong he developed a love and appreciation for the history of the area, especially the unique canal systems throughout the state. While attending Saint Michael's School in Netcong, NJ, during the 1991 - 1992 school year (7th Grade), the fates smiled upon Mr. De Kleine, and he had a Social Studies Teacher by the name of Mr. Raffay . From that year on Mr. De Kleine remained interested in and a student of History.
After high school, Mr. De Kleine attended Rutgers College, Rutgers University and majored in Modern History with a minor in Historical Religious Studies. He graduated in the top 10% of his class in May of 2001.
Mr. De Kleine began educating the youth of Northern New Jersey in the Autumn of 2001.
Shortly after he began teaching, Mr. De Kleine began noticing that some of his students had family issues coupled with mental health issues. Fearing that his students could get lost or slip through the cracks because of the road blocks in their lives, he was encouraged by his wife to take a few classes in psychology - just to see what he could use to help them in and out of the classroom. Mr. De Kleine graduated from Centenary College (now Centenary University), Hackettstown Campus with a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Psychoanalysis - Class of 2007.
As of December 2018 he completed his training in the Big History Project.
Affiliations:
Member of the Golden Key National Honor Society
Member of the Psychology Honor Society - Psi Chi
Member of the Polish National Alliance of Brooklyn, New York
Starting in November of 2019 Mr. De Kleine began training to teach Financial Literacy / Personal Finance.
He completed Cowin Financial Literacy Program through Columbia University's Teacher College in December of 2019.
Through Next Generation Personal Finance (NGPF.org). By the end of the 2019 - 2020 School Year he had attained over 50 Professional Development Hours in Personal Finance. Mr. De Kleine has continued his professional development through NGPF and is currently receiving program certifications through NGPF.
He is NGPF Certified to teach
Banking and Budgeting
Credit
Being the perpetual student of history, Mr. De Kleine enjoys traveling to areas he teaches about. Between 2010 through 2022, he and his family have made trips to almost all of the major sites associated with the French and Indian War, numerous sites associated with the Revolution (especially Morristown, NJ and Paoli, Pennsylvania) and the Civil War, as well as sites associated with major developments in science, culture, and technology.
Most recently Mr. De Kleine has begun a "Remember" Tour - where he and his family visit and explore various sites associated with our nations past battle cries. Of particular interest to Mr. De Kleine and his family is Paoli, Pennsylvania as well as The River Raisin in Michigan.
Battle of Paoli Part I
Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund
Battle of Paoli Part II
Lastly, Mr. De Kleine and his family are experienced rock hounds! Throughout the Spring and Summer months, they will visit geological sites up and down the East Coast collecting rare specimens to include in their collection. Past journeys have taken them to the Barton Garnet Mine in New York State, as well as the Herkimer Diamond Mines in Central New York. It is his dream to one-day travel west and visit the Sapphire Mines of Montana. Locally, they frequent the Franklin, NJ Zinc Mine and the Ogdensburg Mine!
Current and up to date licensure in the State of New Jersey:
Licensed Teacher of Social Studies
Licensed Teacher of Psychology
Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC)
Recognitions:
Achieved December of 2019. Badge issued 2020
Contact information:
Email: pdekleine@lvhs.org
Phone: 973 264 7600 extension 3140
I will do my best to get back to you within 24 hours of your initial contact. Sometimes this does go beyond due to the volume of work submitted via email & Google Docs, but I always will respond.
