Staff Awards and Recognition

Educators of the Year

Elementary
Bucks Hill Preschool - Ana Rivera
Bucks Hill – Miguel Rendon-Moreno
Bunker Hill - Justin Froese
B.W. Tinker - Christine Desanto
Carrington - Rachel Iacovone-Boivin
Chase - Erica Tutino
Driggs - Brianne Modeen
F.J. Kingsbury - Laura Halloran
Frank G. Regan - Christine Miller
Gilmartin - Christine Braxton
Hopeville - Michelle Callahan
John Duggan - Cassandra Salemme
Jonathan E. Reed - Nadia Hakim
Maloney Interdistrict Magnet- Kelly Lund
M.M. Generali - Nicole Smolley
Roberto International Dual Language School - Ashley Ferratto 
Rotella Interdistrict Magnet - Vanessa Greaney
Sprague - Claudia Davis
Walsh - Kathryn Dente
Washington - Karena Nguyen
Wendell L. Cross - Gina Antonios
Woodrow Wilson - Crystal Valentin

Secondary
Crosby High School - Tracy Massicotte
Enlightenment School - Kristin Altwies
John F. Kennedy High School - Tara Cusack
North End Middle School - Lucille Rivera
State Street Program - Maribeth Stolfi
Wallace Middle School - Aaron Thayer
Waterbury Arts Magnet School - Scott Schulte 
Waterbury Career Academy - Laura Thomas
West Side Middle School - Zulma M. Garcia-Pillot
Wilby High School - Robert Haxhi

Support Staff of the Year
Shelley Deziel, Bucks Hill Preschool Secretary

Paraprofessionals of the Year
Maryann McKay - Jonathan Reed Elementary School
Robin Andriskis, North End Middle School
Anna Maria Conde, Crosby High School

2024 Administrator of the Year
Sean Mosley, Early College High School Administrator, Crosby High School

2024 Teacher of the Year
Laura Thomas, Waterbury Career Academy

Educators of the Year
Elementary

Bucks Hill Preschool- Mary Ann Dzinkski
Bucks Hill – Jill Gabriel
Bunker Hill- Marci Buinauskas
B.W. Tinker- Edith Brown
Carrington- Karen Cavanaugh
Driggs- Justine Kuncas
F.J. Kingsbury- Lauren St. Germain
Frank G. Regan- Patty Betancourt
Gilmartin- Suzanna Dali-Parker
Hopeville- Gina Paternostro
International Dual Language School- Maria Cruz 
John Duggan- Cara Files
Jonathan E. Reed- Elizabeth Pelletier
Maloney Interdistrict Magnet- Lisa DiGiovanna
M.M. Generali- Amanda Frenis
Rotella Interdistrict Magnet- Diana Dane
Sprague- Alana Lucian
Walsh- Leanne Kerrigan
Washington- Elizabeth Cooley
Wendell L. Cross- Cynthia Burns
Woodrow Wilson- Amanda Zinno

Secondary

Crosby High School- Patricia Williams
Enlightenment School- Karen Pierce
John F. Kennedy High School- Lana Elder
North End Middle School- Jennifer Rosa
State Street Program- Xylia Lopez
Wallace Middle School- Emily Demirs
Waterbury Arts Magnet School- Jennifer Dimech 
Waterbury Career Academy- Ericka Boutote
West Side Middle School- Lori Ann Trumbley
Wilby High School- Alan Piccolo

Support Staff of the Year
Driggs Elementary School Maintainer- Kevin DeGroate

Paraprofessionals of the Year
Chase Elementary School- Gina Farrington
North End Middle School- Patricia Green
Wilby High School- Karri Gibson

2023 Administrator of the Year
North End Middle School- Sharell Herbert

2023 Teacher of the Year
J. F. Kennedy High School- Lana Elder

Educators of the Year
Elementary

Bucks Hill Preschool- Linda M. Fournier
Bucks Hill – Alyse Ramos
Bunker Hill- Melissa J. Stango
B.W. Tinker- Michele Parks
Carrington- Melissa Thompson
Driggs- Kathryn Ijomah
F.J. Kingsbury- Brian T. Larkin
Frank G. Regan- Alexander Welch
Gilmartin- Laura Caruso
Hopeville- Mark Esposito
International Dual Language School- Nilsa Garcia 
John Duggan- Julie St. Hilaire
Jonathan E. Reed- Michele Choi
Maloney Interdistrict Magnet- Esther Colangelo
M.M. Generali- Dennis Poulter
Rotella Interdistrict Magnet- Marly Parker
Sprague- Eneida Grazhdani
Walsh- Jennifer Lillian
Washington- Cherie Corbo
Wendell L. Cross- Lisa Rizzo
Woodrow Wilson- Selma Mirto 

Secondary

Crosby High School- Albert Chabot II
Enlightenment School- Nicole Lichaj
John F. Kennedy High School- Angela Joyce 
North End Middle School- Sarah Carpenter
State Street Program- Susan Lawlor
Wallace Middle School- Cyndi Mercogliano
Waterbury Arts Magnet School- Ralph Belvedere 
Waterbury Career Academy- Sara Paradis
West Side Middle School- Sequoia Johnson-Cieslewsk
Wilby High School- Chelsea Slade

Support Staff of the Year
Crosby High School School Resource Officer- Officer Michael Tripp 

Paraprofessionals of the Year
Bucks Hill Elementary School- Stacey Bassett
Gilmartin Elementary School- Sheri Jameson
Crosby High School- Cassandra Cheatham

2022 Administrator of the Year
Frank G. Regan Elementary School- Angela Razza

2022 Teacher of the Year
Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School- Marly Parker 

Jason Martinez, North End Middle School

Waterbury Public Schools is delighted to announce that Mr. Jason Martinez has been named the district’s 2021 Teacher of the Year. Mr. Martinez, who has been with the district for 17 years, is a physical education teacher at North End Middle School. He is beloved by his school community, which described him as someone who “shares his positivity and enthusiasm for learning with his students every day.” Mr. Martinez embraced this extraordinarily challenging year, designing a 10-week virtual fitness program for his students.

Mr. Martinez is a lifelong resident of the city and is deeply committed to his community, spearheading the city’s Kids Marathon Program, which has grown to be the largest outreach program in the city, for several years. He also served as head football coach at Crosby High School.

“We are very excited that Mr. Martinez has been selected as this year’s Waterbury Teacher of the Year,” said Superintendent Verna D. Ruffin. “He is devoted to his students and exemplifies the best of the teaching profession, inspiring his colleagues through the years and particularly this year.”

Ms. Gramatto (Grace) Tzepos Morikis, a 4th grade teacher at Bunker Hill Elementary School, Ms. Krislyn Petti, an English Language Arts teacher at Wilby High School, Ms. Stefanie Ann-Teta Porcaro, an art teacher at Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School and Ms. Mary-Ann Sagnella, PhD, a World Language teacher at John F. Kennedy High School, were also selected among several applicants as Waterbury Teacher of the Year finalists. Mr. Martinez will be considered for the title of Connecticut Teacher of the Year, which is traditionally announced in the fall.

The district extends its deepest congratulations to all of this year’s honorees. The teachers, selected by their school, have been recognized for their incredible contributions to the field of education. Each one has inspired a love for learning in their students and has supported their colleagues through an extraordinarily challenging year.

Andre Foote, Walsh Elementary School

Andre Foote is a music teacher at Walsh Elementary School and also teaches at Kingsbury Elementary School one day a week. He is beloved by his school communities, which said “Andre finds the good in all of his students and asks them to dig deep within themselves, finding strength and goodness.” Andre is deeply committed to his community and organizes several yearly concerts and performances in Waterbury. His passion for music education has also taken him to Uganda twice, where he partnered with local schools to teach music to students. He inspires students to pursue excellence, engage in culturally relevant learning and experience the world of music and sharing the music with others. He challenges the dilemma urban communities face when music or the arts are not prioritized and expanded. He finds a way to make it happen.

Lisa M. Romano, Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School

Lisa Romano is a true teacher, whether she is in her classroom, outside at recess, in the auditorium monitoring, she inspires students to do their best. Lisa is a lifelong learner, just receiving her 6th year leadership degree, visiting colleagues during her prep time to sharpen her skills, and sharing articles with colleagues and her twitter followers. This year she started a Leadership Program with 5th grade students, and it is amazing how much these students have grown as leaders. She is a compassionate, sincere teacher as evidenced by the fact that five of her colleagues chose to nominate her, each complimenting her on her passion and drive.

Ryan Carpenter, North End Middle School

Ryan Carpenter is an English language arts teacher who contributed and created many student programs. Ryan initiated NEMS’ participation in the vocabulary.com bowl and scored highest middle school in CT. He developed the curriculum around the book Bronx Masquerade which has since been adopted by other schools in the district. To add, Ryan is also a three-time winner Generali Grant and founded four projects through DonorsChoose. He also participated and lead students in sports teams by becoming head coach of the boys baseball team and the assistant coach of the cross country team. His leadership skills were further shown in his participation as a TEAM Mentor for beginning teachers and presented school and district-wide professional development. Ryan also coordinates 8th grade activities and is a teacher in the CPEP program.

Yolanda Lee-Gorishti, Crosby High School

Yolanda Lee-Gorishti teaches physical science and human biology. Yolanda started Crosby’s branch of the Science National Honor Society, which has soared. Students participate in community-service work, including tutoring their peers twice a week. She organized the STEM Fair at Crosby for the past four years and supervises the Environmental Science Club. Yolanda serves on the Science District Curriculum Committee and has helped write district assessments for science.

Ann Grace Spizzoucco, Wallace Middle School

Ann Grace Spizzoucco has taught sixth grade English language arts at Wallace since 2005. She has also taught Italian at both Wallace and Crosby High School. Ann has served as a member of the school-wide Leadership Team, as a facilitator for the Data team, as a member of the School Governance Council of both Wallace and Crosby and as a mentor for the check-in/check-out program for students at risk. Ann attributes much of her teaching success to high expectations and creates an atmosphere where students aspire to excel.

Jahana Hayes, John F. Kennedy High School; 2016 National Teacher of the Year

Jahana Hayes taught history at Kennedy High School. She was an exemplary educator who brought a sense of community to the classroom. She attributed part of her success as a teacher to her ability to relate to her students. As she described during her interview, “I am that urban child.” She is particularly proud to have spear-headed an effort to write a successful grant proposal for a $25,000 planning grant to recruit minority staff to the district. In 2016, Jahana was named the National Teacher of the Year and was honored by former Presdient Barack Obama at a ceremony at the White House.

Patricia Williams, Wallace Middle School

Patricia Williams teaches English Language Arts. Patricia is an exemplary educator who impressed the Teacher of the Year committee with her commitment to constantly reflect on her own performance as a teacher each day with the goal of improving her teaching so that her students can learn and achieve. They liked Patricia's characterization of our students as having “big personalities” that can be put to full advantage in an active classroom environment. She currently teaches at Crosby High School.

Nina Agostine-Smith, Waterbury Arts Magnet School

Nina Agostine-Smith was a theater arts teacher at Waterbury Arts Magnet School. Nina's community involvement included Kyla’s Road to the Cure, Shakesperience Productions, the Seven Angels Theater HALO Awards and Autism Speaks. As part of her theater arts productions, she regularly developed and distributed study guides for fellow teachers, including lesson plans, text analysis and possible research opportunities for students, so that the production tied into current curriculum.

Vincent Balsamo, John F. Kennedy High School

Vincent Balsamo was a math teacher at Kennedy High School and now serves as Principal of Wallace Middle School. He created the high school's first robotics team. Vincent encouraged his students to participate in their school community. He believes that all students want to feel accepted and capable and that it is important that he model positive skills.

James Butler, Waterbury Arts Magnet School

James Butler exemplifies the teaching profession. James has been teaching social studies for 12 years. He develops and implements lessons that place students in the moment, while making connections to other disciplines. His students are instilled with confidence and exceptional content knowledge, prepared to meet the challenges of the world. James his respected by his students and colleagues for his compassion.

JoAnne Piccirillo, Carrington Elementary School

JoAnne Piccirillo was a fifth grade teacher at Carrington Elementary School. JoAnne went beyond teaching content. She taught students how to self-evaluate and guide their own learning. She incorporated real world examples into her lessons. From listening to current events on the news to looking for science experiments in her flower garden, she was constantly looking for new ways to connect learning with life.

Alison Cremins, John F. Kennedy High School

Alison Cremins was an English Lanuage Arts teacher at Kennedy High School. Alison is extremely capable of engagig students and motivating them to achieve and make strides through the curriculum. While at Kennedy, she assumed the lead in the school's Positive Behavioral Support program and was intrumental in trying to make a systemic change in the culture of the school. She was one of the program's lead teachers and made incredible efforts in improving student behavior and attendance.