WESTFIELD—A parent-led organization gave awards to several of the city’s educational professionals yesterday during a ceremony to honor those who work with students with disabilities.
The Westfield Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) held their second annual Shining Star Awards Ceremony at the Westfield Technical Academy, giving awards to a total of 27 recipients. The awards are organized to provide parents and students a chance to show their appreciation for teachers and other education professionals by allowing them to nominate for the award.
A Shining Star Award recipient embraces a parent that nominated them during last night’s ceremony
“The awards are for any service staff who go above and beyond,” Michele Douglas, SEPAC member, said. “We are really trying to bridge the parents and the teachers together and show how much they are appreciated.”
The awards are given to “educators and support personnel who go the extra mile to serve the Westfield District Schools’ special education community and aspire others to do the same,” according to the nomination papers that must be filled out for each possible recipient.
According to Douglas, nominations are usually made by parents along with their children, and with each nomination a statement must be written about how the person “goes the extra mile to serve the special education community,” per the nomination form.
Douglas said that when the person is receiving the award, a member from SEPAC will read a portion of the statement to highlight how they impacted the community.
“Some are very touching,” she said.
Those who received awards included teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors and others who help students.
Salvatore Frieri, principal for Munger Hill School, said that along with himself, four others from his school also received the awards.
“The fact that five people from my school got the award shows when a good team is together you can do great work,” he said.
Frieri added that the awards were among the first events he heard about when he came to the Westfield school system last year. Previously, he spent the “last few years” in the Holyoke school system.
“It’s the only award I know where parents nominate teachers,” he said.
Stefan Czaporowski addresses the crowd gathered for the second annual Shining Star Awards at Westfield Technical Academy
“I’m very appreciative to be recognized and it’s very important to be recognized from family,” Kathy Schabowski, recipient of an award and inclusion and resource teacher at North Middle School, said.
“I think it’s a great event where teachers are recognized for their work,” said Kerry O’Connor.
O’Connor, along with her daughter Carly O’Connor, nominated Schabowski for the award.
“Every person who works in the schools has the potential to positively affect our students,” Stefan Czaporowski, superintendent of Westfield schools, said.
The complete list of winners are as follows:
(Asterisks indicate previous recipient of the award)
Kim Adamczyk
Ashling Belair
Steph Biza
Barbara Bligh
Donna Bourbeau
Kory Bruno
Fawn Busby
Carolyn Busiere
Sarah Corbett
Caitlin Costello
Kate Fahey
Salvatore Frieri
Lori Isler-Wallander
Heather Kamal
Christine Keough-Huff
Kathy Knapik
Kierstin Knightly
Renee Kosciusko
Noreen Little
Katie Miller
Kim Murray
Nancy O’Neill
Courtney Phelon
Kelly Saltmarsh
Kathy Schabowski
Lisa Stawasz
Police officer Jim Summers
