Stamford Teacher of the Year Finalists Named

STAMFORD, CT - Stamford Public Schools has announced the finalists for the Teacher of the Year Award.

Each year Stamford Public Schools (SPS) recognizes outstanding teachers in the district through its Teacher of the Year and Spotlight on Teachers Awards Program.

Selected from 60 individuals and teams who were nominated for consideration, the committee has chosen:

• George Beratis, Stamford High School band director;
• Jacquelyn Clucus, Cloonan Middle School English language arts teacher;
• Maria Miraballes, Westhill High School social studies teacher;
• Chandan Sarkar, Westhill High School mathematics and computer science teacher;
• Gloria Sinaguglia, Stamford High School music teacher.

The finalists now move on to the next level in the Stamford Teacher of the Year process.

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Teachers are nominated for the Teacher of the Year and Spotlight on Teachers Awards Program by their peers. Nominations were solicited from mid-December through January. The Teacher of the Year and Spotlight on Teachers Awards Program Committee members evaluate all submissions based on the following criteria: Outstanding Teaching, Exceptional Student Support, Exemplary Community Involvement, and Positive Influence on School Culture. From among those submissions, the committee then choses a select group to be honored with a Spotlight Award, as well as an even more exclusive group to be considered for Teacher of the Year.

The Teacher of the Year and Spotlight on Teachers Awards Program Committee has chosen the following group of outstanding teachers and teams of teachers as this year’s Spotlight on Teachers Award Winners:

• Eric Bieder, Toquam, Art
• Jennifer Chichester, Cloonan, math
• Joy Colon, AITE, special education
• Brian Crook, TOR, Music
• Deirdre Crouch , Rippowam, English language arts
• Laura Cruz, Springdale, kindergarten
• Christina A. Damalas, Cloonan, math
• Maria Diaz DeAntonis, AITE, guidance counselor
• Elizabeth Faughnan, Newfield, social worker
• Katelyn Imbornoni, Julia A. Stark, grade 4
• Kristina Lawson, Stamford High School, world language/ELL department head
• Keriann Maxelix, Central Office, curriculum associate for data monitoring K-12,
• Demetria McKenzie, Rippowam, social worker
• Brie O'Bryan, APPLES, pre-K teacher
• Matthew Roberto, Rippowam, guidance counselor
• Melissa Vallejo, K.T. Murphy, math teacher
• Kristin Veenema, English language arts, Stamford High
• Cloonan Music Team: Wendy Delson, Jeremy Fiftal and Quinten Metke
• Hart Audubon Team: Allison Alter, Art; Susan Christiano, science; Linda Kuehn, Kindergarten; Mark Martini, Art; Katlyn McKenna, science; and Christina Wolf , Physical Education
• Stillmeadow Reading Support Team: Jennifer Grant and Iuliana Roata

On May 5, the school district will host a celebration to honor all of the Spotlight Award Winners, Teacher of the Year Nominees, and the Teacher of the Year.