Franklin Avenue Principal Chris Tolpa, Regina Rosario and Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski. (Photo submitted)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield Public School District has announced that the following teachers have been selected as 2019 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award Winners. Teachers were nominated by their principals and fellow staff members and the District Selection Committee scored applications using a rigorous selection criteria.
Regina Rosario – Franklin Avenue Elementary School
Joanne Fouche – Highland Elementary School
Alexandra Brennan – Westfield Intermediate School
Kate Palmer – Westfield Middle School
Crystal Hollister – Westfield Middle School
Galen Wilson – Westfield Technical Academy
Katerina Sherrick – Westfield Middle School (New Teacher)
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, Joanne Fouche, and Highland Elementary Principal Mary Claire Manning. (Photo submitted)
Teachers will be honored at a banquet for Excellence in Teaching Award Winners at the Log Cabin in Holyoke on May 1, 2019. The program will feature a new and exciting awards presentation program that elevates and celebrates every winner. Each will receive an engraved plaque and a check for $500, along with generous tuition incentives and scholarships offered by six major colleges and universities in the region: Elms College, Bay Path University, Springfield College, Western New England University, Westfield State University, and, new in 2019, the University of Massachusetts.
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, Alexandra Brennan and WIS Principal Katherine Bourque. (Photo submitted)
Winners also receive membership at WGBY and access to thousands of digital education resources as well as generous 3-month memberships at the Springfield Jewish Community Center, the Springfield YMCA and five regional YMCAs, and other gifts.
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, Kate Palmer, WMS Principal Paul Newton. (Photo submitted)
In addition, all 2019 winners are invited to apply for the selective Classroom Innovator Prize of $250 by submitting a project-based learning idea. Up to 20 prizes will be given. On March 21, WGBY Springfield and WGBH Boston will offer a webinar to recent and past award winners, led by national project-based-learning expert and author Suzie Boss.
The Excellence in Teaching Awards program is made possible by the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation in partnership with MassMutual and the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation. “I am thrilled that by working together, we can honor well over a hundred talented local educators every spring – and proud that we have done so every year since 2003,” said philanthropist Harold Grinspoon.
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, Crystal Hollister, and WMS Principal Paul Newton. (Photo submitted)
WMS Principal Paul Newton, teacher Katerina Sherrick, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski. (Photo submitted)
Westfield Schools Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, who delivered the awards personally to each teacher on Tuesday, expressed gratitude for this opportunity to recognize outstanding teachers. “We have very talented teachers here in Westfield and this is an outstanding way to let them know that they are appreciated,” he said. Each of the winners will be recognized at the March 18 School Committee meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
Other business and community support comes from American International College, Arrha Credit Union, Country Bank, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, Monson Savings Bank, Staples, and the Big Y. For further information about the Excellence in Teaching Awards Program, contact Program Coordinator Michelle Roberts ([email protected] ).
(Amy Porter contributed to this story.)
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, Galen Wilson, WTA Principal Joseph Langone. (Photo submitted)
