2025 Teacher of the Year Nominees Announced

Hartford Public Schools is pleased to announce the nominees for 2026 Teacher of the Year. These teachers were nominated by their schools for their outstanding work in service of our students.

Each nominee will now undergo an intensive screening and interview process conducted remotely by a district-wide Teacher of the Year Committee made up of Hartford Public Schools directors, officials from the Hartford Federation of Teachers, and previous award winners. After its review, the committee will select three finalists. The finalists will be asked to complete a series of written essay questions and submit a videotaped lesson for the final evaluation.

The winner will be announced on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at an awards ceremony held at the Hartford Downtown Marriott Hotel. The Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony is funded solely by sponsorships and ticket sales.

Last year, we were honored to award Ashantee Hyman, an eight-grade science teacher from Milner Middle School with the 2025 HPS Teacher of the Year award.

All nominees must be tenured PreK-12 teachers in the Hartford Public Schools system who exhibit exemplary teaching skills, show commitment to the belief that all children can learn, and are active in community and humanitarian affairs.

This year’s nominees, listed in alphabetical order by their school name, are as follows:

Annie Fisher STEM Magnet School

Stefanie Deluca

Betances Learning Lab Magnet School

Jessica Ashkinaze

Betances STEM Magnet School

Sherri Ziplow

Breakthrough Magnet School - North

Valerie Michaels

Breakthrough Magnet School - South

Nora Dachille

Bulkeley High School

Adam Lynch

Burns Latino Studies Academy

Gladys Fonseca

Burr Middle School

Carrie Blais

Capital Preparatory Magnet School

Kasandra Kelley

Classical Magnet School

Suzanne Mittica

Dwight Bellizzi Dual Language Academy

Jessica Vargas

Environmental Sciences Magnet School at Mary Hooker

Corbett Lang

Expeditionary Learning Academy at Moylan School

Heather Kahn

Global Communications Academy

Monica Piazza

Great Path Academy

Doris Paluso-Davanzo

Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy

Brittany Neri

Hartford Pre-K Magnet School

Primativa Gradante

Hartford Public High School

Danielle Procaccini

Kennelly School

Isabella Gradante

Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts - Upper School

Lindsay Hansen

Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts - Lower School

Bonnie Kekacs

M.D. Fox School

Lisset Genung

McDonough Middle School

Jacob Nitch

Milner Middle School

Taylor Miller

Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School

Laconia Williams

Montessori Magnet School at Batchelder

Cecilia Schlossberg

Naylor School

Elida Llakmani

New Visions

Kristen Dean

Noah Webster Microsociety Magnet School

Rachael Parrott-Edwards

Parkville Community School

Kelly Hall

Pathways Academy of Technology & Design

Taylor Garman

Rawson School

Trisha Sullivan

Renzulli Gifted & Talented Academy

Jeremy Osterling

Sanchez School

George Cruz

S.A.N.D. School

Jessica White

Sport & Medical Sciences Academy

Lorri Weimer

University High School of Science and Engineering

Amy Baldyga

Weaver High School

Joan Coleman

West Middle School

Lisa Koulouris

Wish Museum School

Ita Brown

Congratulations to all of our amazing nominees!

Hartford Public Schools is deeply grateful to its invaluable event sponsors: Voya Financial Advisors, the Hartford Federation of Teachers, Autumn Transportation, Shipman & Goodwin, LLC, Pullman & Comley, the Robert Patricelli Family Foundation, Downes Construction Group, Ricoh, Professional Promotions, and Parkville Market.

2025 Teacher of the Year NomineesOur 2025 Teacher of the Year Nominees